The Icelandic Pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale will unveil Pocket Universe, an innovative multidisciplinary project by artist, poet, composer, and filmmaker Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir.
This exhibition, curated by Margrét Áskelsdóttir and Unnar Örn, will be accessible from May 9 to November 22, 2026, at Docks Cantieri Cucchini, nestled in Venice's San Pietro di Castello district. This former shipyard is strategically located between the Biennale's renowned Giardini and Arsenale venues.
The presentation will encompass both indoor and outdoor spaces, merging performance, sound, moving imagery, sculpture, and installations. Sigurðardóttir's artistic approach frequently traverses various mediums, intertwining diverse narratives and timelines rather than adhering to a singular storyline.
Central to the exhibition is a moving-image piece featuring a character named Creature Zero, embarking on a quest for the "original rock," envisioned as the earth's foundational element. Shot at locations steeped in mystical or spiritual significance, this work draws inspiration from myths across cultures, delving into how belief and imagination guide humanity through uncertain times.
Throughout the pavilion, recurring motifs such as orbs, charms, and talismans will appear alongside live actions and performances scheduled throughout the Biennale.
Sigurðardóttir expressed that the project emerged from her contemplation of hope, stating, "Hope is such a peculiar word. It only exists when you need it and even then you are not sure if you have it or not."
The exhibition's title stems from a linguistic coincidence in Icelandic, where the word for vase--linked to the myth of Pandora--also means pocket. This inspired her vision of "an endless invisible pocket with hope that never ever runs out."
"I envision the exhibition as a space devoid of expectations," she remarked. "The direction the exhibition takes the viewer is precisely where it should lead."
Curator Margrét Áskelsdóttir emphasized the importance of fostering the right environment for Sigurðardóttir's open-ended creative process. "With Ásta, everything feels possible," she noted. "There is a constant balancing act: how do we hold space for boundless creativity without letting it dissolve into chaos?"
She elaborated on her curatorial role as one of support while navigating the Biennale's institutional framework, likening it to "a stairway to heaven made of porcelain dishes." Her goal is to ensure the artist can ascend without the structure collapsing beneath her.
The pavilion is commissioned by the Icelandic Art Center, which has been responsible for Iceland's participation in the Venice Biennale since 2007. Iceland has showcased a national pavilion since 1984, with notable recent presentations including works by Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir in 2024, Sigurður Guðjónsson in 2022, and Shoplifter in 2019.