Miet Warlop is representing Belgium at the Biennale Arte 2026 with the exhibition-performance IT NEVER SSST. With this choice, the Flemish Community seeks to showcase the artist’s 20-year body of work, while also recognizing Belgium’s strong tradition of performance and interdisciplinarity. This presentation marks the first time that performance art will take centre stage in the Belgian pavilion.
Performers will regularly activate the installation through physical and sculptural rituals. The title refers to the turbulent time in which they keep moving forward, doing everything to avoid a standstill. Warlop’s work explores the urgency of human connection in an increasingly disorienting world, transforming the Belgian Pavilion into a space of energy, tension, and shared emotional experience.
Edition
61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Exhibition times
9 May – 22 November 2026, Tue–Sun
Performance times
Tue–Wed & Fri–Sat, throughout the day
Venue
Belgian Pavilion, Giardini della Biennale, Sestiere Castello, 30122 Venice, Italy
The project travels to Kanal-Centre Pompidou, Brussels, Belgium in March 2027
TEAM
An exhibition-performance by Miet Warlop
Curator
Caroline Dumalin (MORPHO)
Performers
Oscar Claus, Rahmat Emonds, Thybaud Monterisi, Melvin Slabbinck, Wietse Tanghe, and others to be confirmed
Music
Miet Warlop, Micha Volders, Oscar Claus, Rahmat Emonds, Melvin Slabbinck, Wietse Tanghe
Costumes
Carol Piron (TOMBOY)
Project Manager and Artistic Consultation
Guy Gypens (Head of Live Arts, Kanal–Centre Pompidou)
Production Presentation
Kwinten Lavigne
Production Managers
Polina Filimonova, Rossana Miele
Sculptural Production
Barbara Vackier
Sculptural Engineering
Mattis Clement
Dramaturgical Consultant
Giacomo Bisordi
Choreographic Consultant
Nathan Ooms
Pavilion Coordinator
Giulio Piovesan
Production Performance (Kanal)
Luna Riche
Technicians
Axel De Marteau, Brice Muylle, Cédrik Toselli (Kanal)
Engineer-Architect
Alessandro Zorzetto
Artist’s Assistant
Ginger Bogaert
Assistant Curator
Darly Benneker
Communication
Marie-Julie Dellaert, Dieter Vanthournout (Kanal)
Graphic Design
Sophie Keij
Graphic Assistance
Felipe Minicucci, Laure Azizi, Aaron Neubauer
Web Development
Joel Galvez
Press
Serenai/Nakami (Belgium), Sam Talbot (International), David Salomonowicz (Kanal)
Fundraising
Martin Bailly (Kanal), Laure Decock, Frederick Gordts
Administration
Lize Meynaerts, Claïs Lemmens Boon, Ingrid Van Samang (MORPHO)
Mediation (Young Curators Programme)
Maartje Claes, Natalija Gucheva, Anna Laganovska, Claris Ramnoux, Eline Ringhausen, Carla Robin, Laila Melchior (coordinator)
Production Interns/Volunteers
Juli Bierich, Elias Demuynck, Noor Flamey, Hannah Lefever, Viktor Van Hoof
Sculptural Assistance (Student Workshop)
Margot Ally, Sarah-Lisa Bobelyn, Nora Bundervoet, Clémence Cedent, Maya De Block, Ibe De Cat, Mien De Ganck, Nausika De Nil, Ruben De Raeymaekers, Arend De Smedt, Lou De Smedt, Noona Deleu, Jean Descamps, Yael Grunwald, Olivia Leman, Lina van Lieshout, Iluna Nifri, Viona Notte, Elisa Palm, Marianne Van Caekenberghe, Merel Van den Eynde, Maya Van Renterghem, Nel Vanlauwe, Thor Verhoeven, Benjamin Vermoeven, Fran Weymiens
SUPPORTERS
A project by Flanders, State of the Arts
Commissioner
Caroline Gennez, Flemish Minister for Welfare and Poverty Reduction, Culture and Equal Opportunities
Organisation
Department of Culture, Youth and Media
Jury
Heidi Ballet, Bert De Leenheer, Zoë Gray, Laura Hanssens, Ivo Provoost, Stéphane Symons, Pieternel Vermoortel, Bert Schreurs (chairman)
Institutional Partners
MORPHO, Kanal-Centre Pompidou, Miet Warlop/Irene Wool, KASK & ArBA-EsA (Young Curators Programme)
Main Partners
Loterie Nationale Loterij, ING Art Collection, Proximus Art Collection
Partners
Bodies in Space, Delegation of Flanders in Italy, TheMerode, Vandecasteele Houtimport
Friends of the Belgian Pavilion 2026
Art Brussels and Art Antwerp, Siska Bulkens & David Vanbiervliet, Dries Criel & Valérie Maselis, Frédéric de Goldschmidt, Frederick Gordts, KU Leuven, Pierre Lannoy, National Bank of Belgium, Francis Vanhoonacker, Bert Van Welden, Wilgelover nv, Zeno X Gallery – Frank & Eliane Demaegd-Breynaert
