CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT

The thematic and conceptual framework of the Malta Biennale 2026 is conceived to evoke a sequence of thoughts and actions that call for an urgent transformation of the world we inhabit. The gap between proclaimed political and aesthetic ideals and the construction of false realities defines the conditions for a new form of global enslavement, where the distribution of wealth, the exploitation of natural resources, and the power to decide who lives and who dies remain concentrated in the hands of a few.

A repetitive Mannerism permeates contemporary artistic practices, while the expansion of the Western artistic canon fails to conceal the inequalities in the production, access, and enjoyment of art. Analysing the effects of the global economy, capital flows, human migrations, and data transmission technologies, reveals a troubling planetary scenario that demands a rethinking of our cultural consumption patterns. The toxic noise of misinformation and the ruthless exercise of power generate effective forms of alienation, making it necessary to:

• CLEAN: Stop environmental, ethical and aesthetic pollution. Purge, digest, expel.
• CLEAR: Discern, decipher, elucidate, understand.
• CUT: Break away, radically shift direction, open new paths.

The question of how contemporary art can enhance critical awareness of our past and present, while fostering the experience and enjoyment of beauty, will be at the heart of the second edition of the Malta Biennale in 2026. The limestone quarries and the process of extraction and transformation of this material is engrained in the cultural landscape of the Maltese islands and animates the title of the Biennale.

The selected works and projects will relate to the history and narratives embodied in the heritage locations where they will be presented, enlarging the notion of site-specificity and making them meaningful to diverse audiences.

The Malta Biennale 2026 will address some of the most pressing needs of our time by promoting dialogues between the rich cultural heritage of the Maltese archipelago, contemporary thought and innovative artistic practices and contemporary thought. By intertwining aesthetic narratives and forging critical connections between different cultures, biennials can create transgenerational, transdisciplinary, and multicultural encounters aimed at generating policies for the common good. The Malta Biennale 2026 will be inscribed in that line of action.