THE GLOBAL SOUTH PAVILION
THE SOUTH SPEAKS
THE WORLD LISTENS
THE LONDON DESIGN BIENNALE
The Global South Pavilion at the 2025 London Design Biennale is a testament to the rich tapestry of narratives emerging from the global majority population - a population historically sidelined by Western Media. This pavilion serves as a vibrant platform, showcasing the diverse stories, cultures and innovations that de ne regions often underrepresented in global dialogues. The Pavilion’s architecture is a representative blend storytelling techniques and methods from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. Utilising sustainable, low-cost and low-carbon building materials, the structure embodies the resourcefulness and environmental consciousness prevalent in many Global South communities. The installation, titled ‘Talanoa’ will be participatory - with the option for Biennale participants to share their stories with the installation. Those stories will then be collected and submitted to the SOLI Groups Archival Library Project, to be announced at the launch of the Pavilion in June 2025.
The London Design Biennale is a three week long exhibition and events programme located at the iconic Somerset House, in the centre of London. The event features world leading design innovation, creativity and research from participants across the globe - championing the universal relevance of design in contemporary life and culture. Since its inception in 2016, the Biennale has established itself as a dynamic platform for cross-cultural collaboration, showcasing groundbreaking ideas that shape the future of design.
Featuring world-leading design, innovation, creativity and research by exhibitors from across the globe, the Biennale showcases today’s designers and ideas that will change our world. This year’s exhibition theme ‘Surface Reflections’, by Artistic Director Dr Samuel Ross MBE, will explore how ideas are fuelled by both our internal experiences and external influences. Join us from 5-29 June to celebrate design through curated installations and a programme of talks, performances and workshops.
This is TALANOA
At its core, Talanoa is an immersive installation that centres the lived experiences, traditions and innovations of communities historically marginalised in global discourse. Talanoa (n.) tal-uh-NOE-uh is a traditional word used in Fiji and across the Pacific to re ect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue. The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories and wise decisions for the collective good.
Through a dynamic interplay of sound and visual storytelling, the installation invites visitors to step into a multi-sensory space where oral histories, indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary design solutions converge. Utilising materials sourced ethically from the Global South, the installation is intended to foster a dialogue on collective identity, strategic narrative and self-determined futures.
