Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, is pleased to announce the selection of the project "The Remains" (Los restos), by artist Oriol Vilanova, to represent Spain at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (from May 9 to November 22, 2026). The project will be curated by Carles Guerra.
'The Remains': A Meditation on Collective Memory
"The Remains" is centered around an extensive collection of postcards that Oriol Vilanova has compiled over twenty years from flea markets and second-hand shops. These fragments of personal, often neglected or discarded, correspondence embody the ruins of a past era.
Vilanova's proposal transforms this accumulation into a profound meditation on memory, fragility, and the cultural significance of what endures. The Spanish Pavilion will present this collection as an "anti-museum" in constant evolution, where modest yet sustained gestures of collection become a powerful response to contemporary concerns about preservation, accumulation, and the economies associated with cultural value.
Organization and Team
Spain's participation is organized by AECID in collaboration with AC/E, continuing their shared mission to foster the international promotion and excellence of Spanish culture. This exhibition will also mark the re-inauguration of the Spanish Pavilion following its complete renovation scheduled for 2025.
Alongside Oriol Vilanova and Carles Guerra, the Pavilion team includes Ingrid Sala (Studio Manager) and Carolina Ciuti (Curatorial Assistant).
Selection Process
The selection of "The Remains" was carried out by an independent, high-profile jury, jointly convened by AECID and AC/E, and composed of: 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 magazine founder), and artist Ignasi Aballí.
