Exploring Black Art at the 2024 Venice Biennale
The 2024 Venice Biennale, a landmark event in the world of contemporary art, continues to captivate global audiences with its exhibitions of boundary-pushing work from across the world. Taking place in Venice, Italy, the Biennale spans two primary sites—the historic Giardini della Biennale and the vast Arsenale—along with various citywide installations. This year's event titled Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, opened its doors on April 20, 2024, and will run through November 24. It highlights the lives and identities of those who have traversed borders, exploring what it means to be a "foreigner" in today’s world. From the lush grounds of the Giardini to the historic spaces of the Arsenale, the Biennale has transformed Venice into a vibrant stage for artists from every corner of the globe
The 2024 Venice Biennale showcases an impressive selection of artists from the African diaspora, each bringing a unique perspective on themes of history, memory, and cultural identity. Here’s Miami MoCAAD’s guide to the diaspora talent featured this year:
Ishola Akpo | Arsenale Pavilion, Sestiere Castello, Campo della Tana 2169/F
Representing Benin in its debut pavilion, Ishola Akpo is a photographer and multimedia artist whose work, in the exhibition "Everything Precious Is Fragile," addresses themes like the transatlantic slave trade, Vodun spirituality, and the legacy of the Dahomey Amazons. His art uniquely blends video, photography, and installations, offering profound reflections on heritage and identity.
Kapwani Kiwanga | Canada Pavilion, Giardini, Sestiere Castello
Kapwani Kiwanga, a Canadian artist with a background in anthropology, transforms the Canada Pavilion with her installation “Trinket.” Known for her interdisciplinary approach, Kiwanga uses sculpture, video, and sound to explore memory, history, and power structures, reimagining spaces and perceptions in ways that deeply resonate with the audience.
Kapwani Kiwanga Transfer I (Metal, breath, palm oil, beads), 2024. Installation view. (Image credit: © Kapwani Kiwanga / Adagp Paris / CARCC OXawa 2024 Photo : ValenYna Mori))
Sir John Akomfrah | British Pavilion, Giardini, Sestiere Castello
Representing Great Britain, Ghanaian-British artist Sir John Akomfrah brings his monumental installation, "Listening All Night to the Rain," to the Biennale. His work addresses post-colonial histories and collective memory, using film and installation to evoke powerful, contemplative spaces that delve into themes of identity and the complex tapestry of history.
Kiluanji Kia Henda | Arsenale Pavilion, Sestiere Castello, Campo della Tana 2169/F
An Angolan artist, Kia Henda explores colonial history and identity through photography, video, and installations. His piece, The Geometric Ballad of Fear, features a series of prints depicting societal divides, engaging with Africa’s relationship with the Western world and the impact of colonialism on contemporary life.
Séneque Obin | Central Pavilion, Sestiere Castello
Séneque Obin, a foundational figure in Haitian Renaissance art, presents works capturing Haitian life and spiritual practices. His debut at the Venice Biennale introduces audiences to his narrative style, which weaves Haitian history, street life, and spiritual themes, celebrating the resilience and beauty of Haitian culture.
Gabrielle Goliath | Central Pavilion, Sestiere Castello
South African artist Gabrielle Goliath addresses trauma, gender-based violence, and apartheid’s legacy. Her powerful installation, Personal Accounts, uses video and sound to give voice to survivors, highlighting the global issue of patriarchal violence. This piece marks Goliath's first appearance at the Biennale and challenges audiences to confront social injustices through immersive experiences.
Julien Creuzet | French Pavilion, Giardini della Biennale
Representing France, Martinique-born Julien Creuzet blends color, form, and sound in a deeply personal exploration of diaspora identity and liberation. His work embodies themes of resilience and unlearning, encouraging viewers to engage with his unique perspective on reconciliation and emancipation.
Vibranium | Congolese Pavilion, IPAB Opere Riunite Buon Pastore
This groundbreaking pavilion showcases Congolese artists like Aimé Mpane and Eddy Kamuanga. The exhibition Vibranium explores Congo’s colonial past and cultural identity, featuring Mpane's Gold (2021), an installation of ebony ingots symbolizing the nation’s wealth and historical conflict. This work invites viewers to reflect on the narratives of resistance and identity in Congolese culture.
Nigeria Imaginary | Nigerian Pavilion, Palazzo Canal, Dorsoduro 3121
Nigeria Imaginary envisions a future Nigeria through art that reflects on colonial legacies and diaspora narratives. Featuring artists like Yinka Shonibare and Toyin Ojih Odutola, this exhibit intertwines historical perspectives with modern Nigerian identity, offering a hopeful vision rooted in heritage and cultural pride.
No Man is an Island | Grenada Pavilion, Sestiere Castello
The Grenada Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale presents the evocative theme “No Man is an Island”, a concept that resonates deeply with Caribbean identity, community, and diasporic narratives. The Grenada Pavilion features a diverse roster of artists: Suelin Low Chew Tung, Benaiah Matheson, Frederika Adam, Alma Fakhre, Jason de Caires Taylor, Angelo Accardi, Antonello Diodato Guardigli, Lorenzo Marini, Gabriele Maquignaz, Nello Petrucci, and the Breakfast Collective. Their contributions span sculpture, painting, mixed media installations, and conceptual pieces, collectively offering a Caribbean perspective within the global stage of the Biennale.
A Flight in Reverse Mirrors | Tanzanian Pavilion, La fabbrica del vedere, C. del Magazzen
In Tanzania's debut pavilion, A Flight in Reverse Mirrors transports visitors through rooms depicting Tanzanian history, using metaphorical imagery of a moth to signify rebirth. This multimedia exhibit includes woodcuts, installations, and paintings, inviting viewers to experience Tanzania's evolving story and examine migration, environmental change, and other transformative themes.
As the Venice Biennale draws to a close, Miami MoCAAD encourages you to explore the powerful works created by these artists and reflect on the diasporic connections that bind their stories. Stay tuned with Miami MoCAAD for more information on African diasporic artists and their contributions to the global art narrative.
