Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), presents "Los restos" (The Remains), a project by artist Oriol Vilanova curated by Carles Guerra to represent Spain at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026.

This edition is historic, as it marks the re-opening of the Spain Pavilion following its comprehensive renovation in 2025, ensuring a state-of-the-art infrastructure for the promotion of Spanish artistic excellence.

"Los restos": An Archive of Global Memory

The project proposes a large-scale intervention that transforms the interior of the pavilion into a pseudo-museum based on accumulation and memory. It is built around the systematic practice that Vilanova has developed for over two decades: the collection of postcards salvaged from flea markets and second-hand shops.

These fragments, vestiges of the era of global tourism, are displayed in a mural composition without hierarchies or linear narrative. The proposal shuns monumentality to focus on the obsessive gesture of gathering and preserving, inviting reflection on the fragility of materials and the shifts in communication regimes.

An Expanded Proposal: Publication and Performance

The project transcends the physical space of the pavilion through two key elements:

Artist's Book: A publication that expands the research with contributions from Carles Guerra, Catherine Mayeur, Pedro G. Romero, Joëlle Tuerlinckx, and the artist himself.

Action "El fantasma de la libertad" (2026): An unannounced performative intervention that will take place in the Giardini and the Arsenale. Inspired by Luis Buñuel's film, this action proposes fortuitous encounters where the body assumes the role of an exhibition support.

Organization and Team

Spain's participation is organized by AECID and AC/E, with the support of the Fundación Botín. The Spain Pavilion team consists of:

Artist: Oriol Vilanova.

Curator: Carles Guerra.

Management and Coordination: Ingrid Sala (Studio Manager), Carolina Ciuti (Curatorial Assistant), Alessandra Biscaro (PR Manager), and Zak Group (Graphic Design).

Selection Process

The project was chosen by an independent advisory committee composed of prominent figures from the contemporary art world: Santiago Herrero Amigo (AECID), Inma Ballesteros (AC/E), Manuel Segade (MNCARS), Agustín Pérez Rubio, Imma Prieto (Museu Antoni Tàpies), Tania Pardo (CA2M), Santiago Olmo (CGAC), Rosa Olivares (EXIT), and the artist Ignasi Aballí.