Art and Politics at the Venice Biennale: The Portuguese Case

The organisation of national pavilions is the Venice Biennale’s most controversial aspect. However, this feature makes the Biennale’s narrative especially intriguing, as it represents a crucial point where art and politics are inherently connected. This paper examines the case of Portugal and provides evidence to show that cultural and international policies played a crucial role in shaping the country’s participation, with political decisions influencing the development of the country’s art scene. While it remains uncertain how the numerous absences and the non-construction of a Portuguese pavilion at the Biennale may have impacted the global recognition of its art over time, it is undeniable that Portugal and its artists missed out on the opportunities presented by one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art biennials until the 1970s.