Scotland + Venice: Bugarin + Castle

The work of the artists has been exhibited at leading UK institutions including Tate Modern, ICA: Institute of Contemporary Art, Fruitmarket and City Art Centre. Internationally, their work has been shown at WHYNoT Space (Philippines), Microscope Gallery (USA), and Krittinen Gallery (Finland), and will be in upcoming exhibitions at Tromsø Centre for Contemporary Art (Norway), Photographic Centre Peri (Finland), and Cypher (Greece). WHYNoT Space (Philippines), and upcoming at Powerhouse Arts (USA). Individually, they have a wide international practice. Davide Bugarin's work has been featured at the Malta Biennale (2024) and the Italian Pavilion at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in Venice. He has also participated in a residency at the Biennale Architettura 2023, selected by the curator of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. He was part of the New Architecture Writers programme, contributing to The Architectural Review and The Architects' Journal. He has received awards and scholarships from Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Worshipful Company of Architects and Burberry. Bugarin recently completed a research fellowship at The Warburg Institute, who have supported the initial research for this Scotland + Venice project. Angel Cohn Castle's work has been commissioned by BBC Scotland, LUX Scotland and Talbot Rice Gallery, and exhibited at galleries including Kunstmuseum Bonn (Germany) and BALTIC (UK). As founder of Pollyanna, she has produced exhibitions at Royal Scottish Academy, Stirling Castle and international galleries including KINDL Centre for Contemporary Art (Germany). She is currently Lecturer in Fine Art at Newcastle University, and was previously Teaching Fellow in Fine Art at The University of Edinburgh.

Bugarin + Castle said, "For the uneasy and passionate, from an uneasy and passionate duo. The unruly woman, the cuckold, the prostitute, the sodomiser, and other social transgressors were publicly mocked in historic shaming parades. We are interested in how both sound and cross-dressing were used not for expression but as tools of control. These raucous events are the genesis of our exhibition that traverses the historic and contemporary, Scotland and the Philippines. We make the work in a context today where the lives of those such as trans people and sex workers are being debated and impacted in courts and parliaments, often without those people being heard. The work does not tidy shame away, nor does it cling to it. Instead, we lean into the complexity, stickiness and collision of sound, voice and shame."

Dr Morven Gregor, Curator, Mount Stuart Trust and Sophie Crichton Stuart, Chair of Mount Stuart Trust, who founded the Mount Stuart contemporary visual arts programme in 2001, said, "We are excited to curate the work of Bugarin + Castle for Scotland + Venice in 2026. Scotland + Venice: Bugarin + Castle will be the artists' most ambitious presentation to date, reflecting their global outlook and practices across performance, film, architecture, sculpture and design. Their skill in animating historical research to foreground contemporary questions exemplifies the approach of Mount Stuart's Contemporary Visual Arts Programme. As the Programme celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026 by presenting Bugarin + Castle in Venice, we look forward to bringing Scotland + Venice: Bugarin + Castle to Bute in 2027."

Alastair Evans, Chair, Scotland + Venice Partnership, said "Scotland+Venice was created to give artists the opportunity to develop ambitious new work within one of the world's most dynamic cultural contexts, and to champion Scotland as an international centre of excellence for the visual arts."

Emma Nicolson, Head of Visual Arts, Creative Scotland, added, "Bugarin + Castle are creating work that is visually striking, conceptually rich, and politically resonant. It promises to be a powerful and provocative encounter, and we're proud to support its journey to be shown in Venice and then to audiences back home in 2027."

Norah Campbell, Head of Arts, British Council Scotland, "Venice is one of the world's most significant stages for contemporary art, and Scotland + Venice gives Scotland based artists an invaluable opportunity to share their work with international audiences. The British Council is delighted to support this project alongside our presentation of the British Pavilion, which together showcase the breadth of creative talent across the UK."

Lucia Pietroiusti, Head of Research & Emergence at Hartwig Art Foundation, Amsterdam, and selection panel member commented, "A presentation at Venice by a country is a meeting point of local and international. It brings situated practices rooted in their environment in dialogue with the wider existential, philosophical, cultural and social questions of our time. This work was selected for the artist's vision, their energetic approach, their collaborative nature and for the way in which it connects the realities of Scotland and the wider world."

Simon Groom, Director of National and International Partnerships at the National Galleries of Scotland, said, "The artistic collaboration of Bugarin + Castle exemplifies the spirit of partnership that underpins this ambitious project, that has forged new creative networks and innovative alliances and which will enable the work to be enjoyed by audiences in Venice, as well as on tour both in Scotland and internationally."

Chris Rawcliffe, Artistic Director of Forma said: "Scotland + Venice: Bugarin + Castle is reflective of Forma's longstanding support of projects that are both career-defining and that seek to push the boundaries of the artists' practice. As an organisation invested in developing strong and sustained relationships with our partners, we are honoured to be returning to the Biennale once more in this expanded role following our previous support of Alberta Whittle's Scotland + Venice presentation in 2022"

The Professional Development Programme also returns as Scotland + Venice returns to Venice. This is a paid opportunity for 17 students and early career visual arts professionals the chance to spend time in Venice during the Biennale period. Participants engage with the curatorial team in the run up to the Biennale opening and receive training around the work and venue. When in Venice, the Associates will look after and advocate for the exhibition, have the opportunity to expand their professional networks and access the wealth of international exhibitions on display. The participants are also given time to dedicate to academic or practice-based research. In the past, participation has led to jobs, placements and delivered many collaborations and research. For the first time, Scotland + Venice are partnering with Outer Spaces to offer three early career visual arts professionals a 10-week paid residency as Senior Exhibition Associates. The opportunity was open to Outer Spaces studioholders across Scotland who met the eligibility. Outer Spaces support the creative and professional development of artists through studio and project spaces, awards, commissioning and partnership across Scotland. Partners in full for this programme: a-n, City of Glasgow College, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Grays School of Art, Outer Spaces and The Bute Family Trust with Mount Stuart Trust.