Basque art returns to Venice 50 years later

Basque art returns this year to the Venice Biennial, 50 years after its first appearance in 1976, with the institutional, academic and artistic programme "I Baschi alla Biennale 1976/2026".

The lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, will lead the Basque delegation that will open in Venice from 6 to 8 May and will be accompanied by experts such as Joseba Zulaika, Mira Vadillo, Peio Aguirre, Beñat Sarasola and Leire Vergara and artists such as Jose Maria Zabala, Damaris Pan, Mari Puri Herrero and Itziar.

The first Vice-President and Counsellor for Culture and Linguistic Policy, Ibone Bengoetxea, recalled in the presentation of the initiative that a group of Basque artists brought to Venice "the voice of a country": "That gesture was not merely a cultural gesture, it was also an expression of freedom, dignity and collective affirmation," he said.

In this context, the Biennial made room for the programme promoted by Basque artists in 1976 and, without its own pavilion, Venice became an international speaker. "Through cinema, music and visual arts, artists such as Néstor Basterretxea, Fernando Larruquert, José Antonio Sistiaga or Mikel Laboa placed the cultural and political reality of the Basque Country at the centre of the international debate."

The project "I Baschi alla Biennale 1976/2026" will combine "memory, thought and creativity" and its institutional axis will have as its stage Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, where on May 7 an official event will be held, chaired by President Imanol Pradales.

The academic axis will be developed at the University of Ca "Foscari in Venice through the" Euskadi Venice Biennial, 1976: memory for the future "and the artistic axis will be developed at the Palazzo Contarini della Porta di Ferro.

The historical material will be the subject of enjoyment and study: the film by José Antonio Sistiaga (1968-1970), by Néstor Basterretxea and Fernando Larruquert (1968), by Axut José María Zabala (1975), by Arriluce José Angel Rebolledo (1971-1975), by Ikimilikiliklik (1975), and by Juicio de Burgos ( 1975).

In addition, there will be contemporary works in Venice, such as the painting of Dobla Damaris Pan and performances by Irrintzi Repetición (Itziar Okariz) and Tripak tokia (Tripak).