Anca Benera and Arnold Estefán, the artists representing Romania at the 61st Venice Biennale (2026), discuss their upcoming installation titled "Black Seas — Scores for the Sonic Eye" in the Giardini pavilion. The work combines a two-channel video, sound, and sculptural elements made from floating buoys collected from various seas, reflecting on the parallels between oceanic turbulence and geopolitical instability, particularly in the Black Sea region. The interview, part of ArtReview's series of questionnaires with national pavilion participants, explores how their project relates to the Biennale's theme "In Minor Keys," emphasizing poetry and subtle signals over spectacle.
This article matters because it offers a direct, personal insight into how contemporary artists are engaging with pressing global issues—such as war, ecological crisis, and resurgent nationalism—through the framework of a major international exhibition. Benera and Estefán critically question the relevance of the Venice Biennale's national pavilion system, noting its origins in the rise of fascism and its current tension with rising nationalism, while still valuing the Biennale as a meeting point for global artistic voices. Their reflections highlight the ongoing debate about how institutional structures can be reimagined from within, making this piece relevant to discussions of art's role in political and social commentary.