Philippine Pavilion unveils 'Soil-beings (Lamanlupa)' at Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy

The Philippine Pavilion has opened its doors to the public at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in Italy with an exhibition titled “Soil-beings (Lamánlupa).”

The exhibition curated by Renan Laru-an and featuring the work of German-Filipino artist Christian Tenefrancia Illi aims to challenge traditional architectural perspectives by presenting soil not as a mere material, but as a dynamic, living entity.

It reimagines the foundational relationship between architecture and soil, shifting focus from structure to the underlying substrate.

The exhibition also aims to foster more reciprocal and ethical relationships with the earth, inviting architects, designers, and the public to engage with soil as an active participant in shaping the built environment.

At the heart of the exhibition is “Terrarium,” an installation by Illi, which is composed of nearly 1,000 soil tiles gathered from various Philippine landscapes.

According to a press release, Terrarium is the culmination of Illi's months of research, collaboration, and site-specific experimentation across the Philippines and beyond.

Co-founder of Studio KIM/ILLI, Illi works between Berlin and Bacolod. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News