Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Artist Miet Warlop and curator Caroline Dumalin will unveil their new artistic work at the Belgian pavilion during the 2026 Venice Biennale exhibition.
Miet Warlop and Caroline Dumalin will stage “It Never ST” as their new performance at the Belgian pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale. Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez revealed the decision after her Flemish institution selected Miet Warlop and Caroline Dumalin from 21 potential contenders. The jury members recognised performance art’s immediate qualities as an optimal choice for participating in the Biennale pavilion events because they found Warlop’s artistic style fulfilled the Biennale’s goals.
Stage audiences will encounter various tales about social pressures while studying language and rituals as the performance presents “high rock ‘n roll” elements. Warlop declared her exceptional delight about working with this team, stating,
This experience is impossible to describe regarding my professional development.
The collaborations between MORPHO and Dumalin function as artistic director and curator at Antwerp’s MORPHO venue, which plays a key role because they present leading Flemish art on global stages. Society needs art, according to Gennez, who stated that Warlop’s work will confront and join spectators at this major exhibition.
Warlop is set to work jointly with Caroline Dumalin.
Dumalin leads MORPHO in Antwerp as both artistic director and curator while using the organisation to defend artistic positions in municipal spaces and facilitate worldwide artistic development. Warlop has been a curator at both Wiels in Brussels and Europe as an independent professional.
Art should be at the centre of society, challenging people and bringing them together,
says Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez.
That is, in a mass event like the Venice Biennale, a challenging task. We are convinced that Miet Warlop can do it.
She has proven this not only with her performance work, which always contains strong visual elements, but also with her visual work, which always manages to attract people and at the same time be contrary. With her contribution to the Belgian pavilion, we are delivering top Flemish work in an international top location.
How does this fit into the Venice Biennale’s Legacy?
Every two years, the Venice Biennale welcomes contemporary artists from worldwide venues, including Belgium, which exhibits distinctive avant-garde creative projects. Last year’s Belgian pavilion displayed folkloristic giants through the collective work of the Petticoat Government, which combined giants from Spain, France, and Belgium.
Caroline Gennez, who serves as the Flemish Minister of Culture, declared that Warlop’s selection represents top Flemish art displayed at an international top location. Belgium will expand its position as an artistic leader worldwide through its show at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
