Bugarin + Castle to represent Scotland at La Biennale di Venezia in 2026

For the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, Bugarin + Castle are to represent Scotland, in a project curated by Mount Stuart Trust and commissioned by Scotland + Venice. Bugarin + Castle’s commission is a multi-layered new project that uses the concept of the parade as a lens to explore complex emotional legacies of shame, pride and celebration.

Drawing on queer histories, Scottish archives and Filipino cultural heritage, Bugarin + Castle’s project will examine how sound and costume shape social control. The artists’, Davide Bugarin and Angel Cohn Castle, interdisciplinary art practice traverses cabaret performance and architectural methodologies, driven by queer and decolonial research.

The project will return home to be exhibited at Mount Stuart on Bute in Summer 2027, before further presentations in Scotland, which will be announced soon.

“We first met performing in the mess and noise of queer cabaret in Edinburgh. A decade later, that spirit still drives our practice. We’re thrilled to show new work together in Venice, transforming the venue with spatial and drag-inflected interventions that confront questions of gendered performance and colonial sound control, rooted in our lived experience. We aim to trouble easy narratives on the contested ground of identity today.” said Bugarin + Castle

Bugarin + Castle’s recent interactive film Sore Throat, shot in Edinburgh and Manila, explored colonial monsters and sound in queer Filipino spaces, showing in a solo exhibition at Fruitmarket as well as at Tate Modern and international venues. Via custom software, gallery audience voices were unknowingly recorded and replayed within the film, implicating them as antagonists in its narrative. Bugarin + Castle also perform in drag as Hairy Teddy Bear and Pollyfilla, through Pollyanna, a Scottish queer arts company founded by Castle, now in its 10th year.

Dunoon Burgh Hall and BUZZCUT also form part of the project network, reflective of the interdisciplinary work of the artists and Scottish cultural sector. Forma will provide project support building on their previous Scotland + Venice experience working with Alberta Whittle in 2022.

“We are excited to work with Bugarin + Castle, extending our shared commitment through the opportunities presented by Scotland + Venice to bring this ambitious work of performance and moving image to life and to reach our audiences on the West Coast of Scotland and internationally. We look forward to celebrating the return of Scotland to Venice with our communities across Scotland and beyond, and, as ever, recognise the positive impact of working in collaboration with key partners in the cultural sector. In 2026 Mount Stuart Trust’s Contemporary Visual Arts Programme celebrates 25 years, and we are delighted that part of this special year will be working with Angel Castle Cohn and Davide Bugarin on Scotland + Venice.” said Morven Gregor, Curator, Mount Stuart Trust and Sophie Crichton Stuart, Chair of Mount Stuart Trust

The project was chosen to represent Scotland by a panel including Sepake Angiama, Director, Iniva, Norah Campbell, Head of Arts Scotland, British Council, Simon Groom, Director, International & National Partnerships, National Galleries of Scotland, Emma Nicolson, Head of Visual Arts, Creative Scotland and Lucia Pietroiusti, Head of Ecologies, Serpentine.

“Scotland + Venice 2026 presents a timely opportunity to showcase the diversity, innovation and internationalism of contemporary Scottish art. This presentation reflects the depth of collaboration, critical engagement and inclusive practice that defines the Programme’s future direction” commented Alastair Evans, Chair, Scotland + Venice Partnership

The work will be shown from Saturday 9 May to Sunday 22 November 2026.

Further news and insights will be shared on the lead up to Scotland + Venice 2026 across our social media channels and newsletter.

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