Uruguay Pavilion 2026: Antifragile

The Uruguayan Pavilion unveils ANTIFRAGIL, a new installation work to be presented by artist Margaret Whyte and curator Patricia Bentancur at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, from 9 May to 22 November 2026.

The idea of antifragility, developed by Nassim Taleb, describes systems that do more than simply survive disorder and instability, they become stronger and more adaptable because of them. Margaret Whyte’s work reflects this idea. Her art grows out of tension, mistakes, and vulnerability, using them as creative forces. Rather than trying to eliminate chaos, she works with it, transforming uncertainty into a powerful and poetic form of resistance that expands how we see and understand the world. ANTIFRAGIL brings together elements from different systems, allowing them to influence and transform one another. Textiles are combined with outdated technological objects — old machines, motorcycle helmets, and pieces of debris. Together, they form an assemblage that gains strength and intensity through the friction between its parts. These connections also suggest a way of thinking about politics, echoing Arthur Danto’s reflections on the relationship between art and philosophy. For curator Patricia Bentancur, ANTIFRAGIL positions weaving and assembling as political technologies of protest and affiliation. The act of interweaving fragments becomes a model of thought — articulating relationships and proposing plural narratives that move beyond singular genealogies. Through this project, the Uruguayan Pavilion reflects on how alternative geographies and critical perspectives can transform not only artistic repertoires, but also modes of exhibition and knowledge production.

What to expect:
Installation