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Corsica Welcomes the Third Edition of the De Renava Biennale

Corsica Welcomes the Third Edition of the De Renava Biennale March 6, 2026Art Events, CorsicaOff

Bonifacio Prepares for the Third Edition of the De Renava Biennale

Perched dramatically on limestone cliffs above the Mediterranean, Bonifacio has always been a place where history feels alive. This summer, the ancient Corsican citadel will once again transform into a stage for contemporary creativity as De Renava unveils the third edition of the Biennale de Bonifacio, running from May 23 to November 5, 2026.

Titled “Nimu Dormi” – meaning “Nobody Sleeps”, the new edition explores the fascinating tension between celebration and revolt. At first glance the two might seem opposite forces, yet the exhibition reveals how both moments share a powerful capacity to disrupt routines, awaken collective consciousness, and imagine new possibilities for society.

Mao Tao, Fishing the moon © De Renava

When Celebration Becomes Resistance

Rather than treating festivity as simple entertainment, the biennale approaches it as something far more complex. Celebration becomes a moment of awakening – a space where voices gather, rhythms pulse, and communities reimagine their place in the world.

Through installations, performances, and multidisciplinary works, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on how collective gatherings can become acts of resistance, solidarity, and transformation.

In this context, dance, light, sound, and movement are not just aesthetic gestures. They are tools for expression and change.

Art Inside a Thousand-Year-Old Citadel

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Biennale de Bonifacio is its setting.

The exhibition unfolds throughout the historic citadel, creating a dialogue between contemporary art and centuries-old architecture. At the heart of the event stands Caserne Montlaur, a vast 5,000-square-meter former military building that had remained unused for more than three decades before becoming the epicenter of the biennale.

Here, artists interact not only with the exhibition space but also with the layered history of Bonifacio itself – a city shaped by the Mediterranean, trade routes, and cultural crossings.

Vue de Bonifacio depuis la Caserne Montlaur © De Renava

A Mediterranean Platform for Contemporary Art

Behind the project is De Renava, a non-profit cultural organization founded in 2020 by Prisca Meslier and Dumè Marcellesi, later joined by Basile Isitt. Their ambition is clear: to position Corsica as an emerging center for contemporary artistic dialogue in the Mediterranean.

The biennale brings together a selection of international and regional artists who engage with the territory, its landscapes, and its cultural heritage.

But the event extends far beyond exhibitions. A vibrant program of talks, performances, concerts, and educational activities will animate the citadel throughout the summer, inviting both locals and international visitors to experience Bonifacio from an entirely new perspective.

A Cultural Destination in the Mediterranean

With its breathtaking sea views, labyrinthine streets, and spectacular cliffs, Bonifacio already ranks among the Mediterranean’s most captivating destinations.

The De Renava Biennale adds another dimension – transforming the city into a living cultural landscape where art, architecture, and history collide.

And under the theme “Nimu Dormi,” one message is clear:

This is not a place to sleep.

It is a place to awaken.

Discover more at
https://derenava-art.com

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