Panama officially introduced "Tropical hyperstition," an exhibition that will represent the country at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennial, one of the most important events of contemporary art worldwide.

The work of the artistic duo Messengers of the Sun, formed by Antonio José Guzmán and Iva Jankovic, will represent the country at the Panama Pavilion with a proposal that explores memory, displacement and stories related to the construction of the Canal.

The exhibition will be held in Venice from May to November 2026, strengthening the presence of the country in the international circuit of contemporary art.

The project includes the curatoriums of Ana Elizabeth González and Mónica E. Kupfer and forms part of an effort by the Ministry of Culture, with the Panama Canal Museum and the City of Knowledge Foundation with the aim of projecting Panamanian talent and strengthening the national artistic ecosystem.
Commissioner Gianni Bianchini of the Ministry of Culture of Panama stated:

"That project reaffirms our commitment to artistic practices that re-propose how institutions relate to history and material knowledge. Guzmán and Jankovic propose a model of practice rooted in collaboration, cultural continuity and critical reflection about colonial legacies.

The Panama Pavilion becomes, through this work, a space for collective, sensory and socially committed meeting, reflecting the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture to support an art that dialogues with the living stories and contemporary realities. "
An exhibition about memory, history and territory

"Tropical hyperstition" addresses historic memories related to the construction of the Panama Canal and the displacement of communities during the creation of the Canal Zone. The artistic proposal refers to communities such as Chagres, Emperor and Gorgona, who were displaced in this process, in a context marked by dynamics of segregation and colonialism. From this perspective, the work invites them to critically review these facts and their implications for the collective memory of the country.

The installation offers an immersive experience that combines textiles, sound and archived images, inviting the visitor to conduct a contemporary reflection about memory, migration and territory.

At the centre of the installation lies a monumental hammock with an indigo dyed fabric, a material historically associated with colonial economies, forced labour and transatlantic migration.

The work intertwines indigenous traditions, Afro-Caribbean migration and contemporary Panamanian identity, creating a space that connects history, culture and collective experience.

The artists Antonio José Guzmán and Iva Jankovic - Messengers of the Sun develop an artistic practice that combines textiles, sound, archives and memory to explore stories of movement, identity and diaspora.

The artists commented: "Our work moves beyond the neutrality of the white cube, with an emphasis on incarnated experience and collective presence. Textures have memory, ritual becomes a space for repairing historic breakages and collaboration with ancestral knowledge opens up a continuous process of transformation. We propose art as an area of emancipation - where sound, fabric and movement generate new forms of belonging."

A project selected by an open call

The project was selected in 2025 through an open call organized by the Ministry of Culture and received 89 proposals from artists and collective partners.

The proposals were evaluated by an independent international jury, composed of contemporary art professionals in Latin America, with criteria of conceptual coherence, artistic trajectory and viability of the project.

Panama at the Venice Biennial
The Venice Biennial brings together every two years artists, curators, critics and visitors from around the world and is considered one of the most influential platforms of contemporary art.

For many years, Panamanian creators have been paving their way in this important world stage, both at the art and architecture biennale. That path includes Panamanian works at the Latin American Pavilion (IILA), other national pavilions or the Central Exhibition of the biennale.

The National Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennial in 2024 and again in 2026, marks a milestone because Panama converts its participation into a country project: a joint effort between state, private enterprise, museums, cultural and mecenas that shows how collaboration between sectors can strengthen the international vision of Panamanian art and generate cultural pride for the country.
More information: https: / / panamapavilion.org /