San Marino Pavilion at the 61st Biennale Arte: Mark Francis' Sea of

San Marino Pavilion: Sea of Sound by Mark Francis

From 9 May to 22 November 2026 the Pavilion of the Republic of San Marino is open to the public at the 61st International Art Exhibition, hosted at Tana Art Space (Fondamenta de la Tana n. 2111, Venice). Admission is free throughout the Biennale Arte 2026.

• Artist: Mark Francis (Newtownards, Northern Ireland, 1962)
• Project title: Sea of Sound
• Curator: Luca Tommasi
• Dates: 9 May – 22 November 2026
• Venue: Tana Art Space, Fondamenta de la Tana n. 2111, Venice
• Admission: free

The pavilion presents a body of new paintings alongside a moving-image work that investigates the interplay between image, sound and visual memory. Francis's painting generates a synesthetic effect: brushstrokes and bands of colour suggest rhythms and frequencies, turning visual perception into a kind of audible landscape experienced through sight.

The film Listening Field acts as an introduction to the artist’s visual language: a moving sequence developed with filmmaker Ian Cross that pairs abstract imagery with a deliberately non-melodic soundtrack. The main gallery displays large-scale oil on canvas and aluminium works designed to deepen the dialogue between colour, texture and the sonic intensity they evoke.

The San Marino presentation highlights the artist’s interest in the relationship between art and science: variations in tone and chromatic density echo acoustic and perceptual phenomena. The installation is organised by a contemporary art institute with support from institutional and private partners.

Visiting information: the exhibition is open with free admission from 9 May to 22 November 2026; check the pavilion’s official channels for updates and practical details.