Troy Pavilion at the 2nd Malta Biennale
As part of the official program of the 2nd Malta Biennale, the Troy Pavilion—realized by the Çanakkale Biennial—meets an international audience at Old Armoury Birgu between 11 March and 29 May 2026. Curated by Deniz Erbaş, the exhibition brings together works produced by artists in Çanakkale, positioning Troy not only as a historical heritage site but as a living reference for contemporary artistic and intellectual production in the Mediterranean. Works by David Blandy, Georgios Katsagelos, Jakob Gautel, Katrin Korfmann & Jens Pfeifer, Pınar Yolaçan, and Seyhan Boztepe offer a contemporary reading of Troy’s multilayered cultural and symbolic world.
The Troy Pavilion is realized with the support of the Dr. Gökhan Gündoğdu Museum and Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, in collaboration with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism Çanakkale Directorate, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Fine Arts, and the Troy Excavations. Project advisors include Prof. Dr. Rüstem Aslan, Head of Troy Excavations, and Prof. Didem Çatal.
The opening on 11 March was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Malta, Barkın Kayaoğlu, Heritage Malta Chairman Mario Cutajar, and representatives of supporting institutions, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition.
Ambassador Kayaoğlu expressed their satisfaction in contributing to the second edition of the Malta Biennale through the Troy Pavilion, emphasizing that this contribution represents not only an exhibition but also a gesture of cultural dialogue within the shared context of contemporary Mediterranean art. He noted that Troy is not only an archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a powerful cultural narrative embedded in the shared memory of the Mediterranean and a meeting point of civilizations. In this context, the participating artists establish new connections between past and present through mythology, memory, and symbols.
Curator Deniz Erbaş stated that the Troy Pavilion brings together international artists who have developed their works in Çanakkale or have drawn inspiration from it, engaging with the cultural, historical, and symbolic layers of Troy. Many of these works have emerged over time within the conceptual framework of the Çanakkale Biennial, forming a meaningful field of interaction between Troy and contemporary art. Highlighting the shared vision with the Malta Biennale, Erbaş noted that, like the Çanakkale Biennial, the Malta Biennale seeks to connect rich local heritage with international contemporary art, contributing to a mutually enriching cultural ecosystem.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998, Troy represents a unique constellation of meanings shaped by the interweaving of myth, history, and archaeology. The exhibition approaches this layered heritage not as a fixed and completed past, but as a living field of thought continuously reproduced through journeys, encounters, and narratives across the Mediterranean. Through works in video, photography, installation, and playful interventions, the artists suggest that the past is not a singular, unchanging story, but one constantly reimagined through collective production, circulation, and imagination—inviting viewers to reconsider Troy’s relationship with the present.
Following a preview between 11–13 March, the exhibition opened to the public on 14 March and will remain on view until 29 May 2026. After its presentation in Malta, the exhibition will travel to Adana, where it will be reconfigured and expanded with additional artists at the Dr. Gökhan Gündoğdu Museum. The Troy Pavilion will conclude within the framework of the biennale’s closing events with a talk on Troy by Prof. Rüstem Aslan.
About the Malta Biennale 2026:
Malta’s international contemporary art platform, the Malta Biennale, presents its second edition across historic venues in Valletta, Birgu, Xagħra, and the Cittadella in Gozo from 11 March to 29 May 2026. Curated by Rosa Martínez under the conceptual framework CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT, the biennale proposes a critical and transformative exhibition strategy addressing environmental, ethical, and aesthetic issues. Organized by Heritage Malta, the biennale also features an extensive public program of talks, workshops, and participatory events, fostering a sustainable dialogue between contemporary art and Malta’s layered historical context.
For more info: maltabiennale.art
