Venice Biennale 2024 Highlights
The Venice Biennale, the art world’s most prestigious exhibition, opened last week to some fanfare, some criticism, and a number of protests. Viewers generally look to the Biennale as a reflection of its time, and this one arrived at a fraught moment in history defined by political unrest and distrust for traditional systems of power. Indigenous and African artists, historically underrepresented in Venice, are notably more visible than in previous iterations of the show.
Standouts from the 2024 edition
The Holy See Pavilion: The Vatican’s Holy See Pavilion organized an exhibition based on the theme of human rights, titled “Con i Miei Occhi (With My Eyes),” at the Giudecca Women’s Detention Home, an active prison for female inmates. The show includes works by the feminist art collective Claire Fontaine, the Brazilian textile artist Sonia Gomes, the American artist Corita Kent, and the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. Inmates are giving guided tours, and Pope Francis will make history by being the first Pontiff to visit the Biennale.
The Nigeria Pavilion: For the country’s second-ever pavilion in Venice, eight Nigerian artists installed site-specific works at the Palazzo Canal in a show organized by the London-based curator Aindrea Emelife. The projects include Yinka Shonibare’s replicas of the Benin Bronzes and a sculpture by Ndiki Dike commemorating protests against police in 2020, reflecting on the violence of colonial history and paths to move forward.
Japan Pavilion: Part of the artist Yuko Mohri’s installation “Compose” at the Japan Pavilion.
