The Venice Biennale 2026: Czechia and Slovakia Present the Winning Project
Prague, 24 June 2025 – A jury composed of independent experts as well as representatives of the National Gallery Prague and the Slovak National Gallery has selected the winner of the open call for the representation of both countries at the 61st Venice Biennale. The winning project is The Silence of the Mole, created by the duo Alex Selmeci & Tomáš Kocka Jusko, artist Jakub Jansa, and artist and curator Peter Sit.
In 2026, the Czech and Slovak Pavilion at the Venice Biennale will mark the 100th anniversary of its opening. This was one of the reasons why the competition brief called for an artistic project conceived as a joint presentation of both countries.
Author teams composed of Czech and Slovak artists and curators submitted seventeen artistic projects to the competition. The competition and the jury, including its composition, were designed to guarantee the independence and professional expertise of the selection process.
The Silence of the Mole was evaluated as the strongest project, both for its clarity in an international context and for its complex approach to the pavilion space and the context of a joint presentation. The jury also appreciated the level of development of the submitted proposal, which combines a historical reflection on the shared pavilion with a contemporary critical perspective on the cultural representation of Czech and Slovak identity in the context of the Venice Biennale. The concept is clear and accessible, while at the same time containing many layers of association with sources from Czech and Slovak culture and the ways in which they have shaped notions of our identity. The jury praised the project for connecting the work of all participants from both countries in a balanced yet coherent way, as well as for its interdisciplinary format, combining film, performance, and installation.
The Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition is a global forum and an open field for presenting and connecting current trends in art. Every two years, in the national pavilions and in the curated exhibition in the Giardini and Arsenale, the most resonant approaches in contemporary international art are brought into dialogue. Koyo Kouoh was selected as the chief curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition, titled In Minor Keys. This theme and the curatorial concept proposed by the chief curator will be respected despite her recent sudden passing. The 2026 Biennale Arte will take place from 9 May to 23 November 2026.
About the winning project, The Silence of the Mole
The central figure is Mr K. – an exhausted actor who for decades portrayed the character of the Little Mole. From an original embodiment of childhood innocence and poetic silence, he has become a mascot of cultural diplomacy, an object of licences and nostalgic myths. He is sent to represent the Czech and Slovak Republics as a diplomatically acceptable, politically neutral figure who nevertheless embodies reproach, silence, and a confused identity.
The Silence of the Mole develops the theme of relationships on the levels of Czech-Slovak coexistence, collective memory, and ecological fatigue. It raises the question of what happens to imagination when it becomes a public mask. The exhibition will address a broad international audience through visual legibility, a strong emotional atmosphere, and a language-independent dramaturgy.
