Manila-born interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker Jon Cuyson and Filipina American curator Mara Gladstone have been selected to represent the Philippines at the 61st Venice Biennale. 

In his multimedia oeuvre, Cuyson explores questions of heritage and ecology, with a particular focus on the maritime industry. His most recent works are rooted in a self-developed conceptual framework he calls “Mussel Thinking,” which is inspired by the humble shellfish. By observing how mussels filter water, gather in clusters, and engage with their environment, Cuyson incorporates ideas such as permeability, care, and interdependence into his artistic methodology.

His exhibition for the Philippine Pavilion, titled “Sea of Love / Dagat ng Pag-ibig,” will expand on this narrative, featuring paintings, videos, sculptures, and other works from the past three decades of Cuyson’s practice that honor the important yet often overlooked contributions of Filipino seafarers to global trade. Reflecting on the Philippines’ archipelagic geography and cultural milieu, the show will contemplate the ocean not as a barrier, but as a dynamic site for movement and interaction.

In a press release, Cuyson stated: “My projects have been shaped through modules of memory—a practice of interconnected works that act as partial archives for submerged histories, maritime labor, and fragments of belonging. Our exhibition for the Venice Biennale continues this inquiry by exploring mussels as a motif and metaphor for understanding kinship across land and sea.”

Gladstone added: “Water is also a place to find a sense of home. . . . Our proposal posits humanizing forces of love within the ebb and flow of globalization in sync with our undulating oceans.”

Since returning to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after a 51-year hiatus, the Philippines has maintained a consistent presence at the prestigious international event. In last year’s edition, Mark Salvatus represented the country with his exhibition “Sa Kabila ng Tabing Lamang ng Panahong Ito / Waiting Just Behind the Curtain of this Age,” curated by Carlos Quijon, Jr.

The 61st Venice Biennale is set to run from May 9 to November 22, 2026.

Iain Cocks is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.