The Venice Biennale, the art world’s most prestigious exhibition, opened last week to a mix of excitement, criticism, and protests. This year’s edition arrived at a tumultuous moment in history, marked by political unrest and a growing distrust of traditional power structures. Notably, Indigenous and African artists, historically underrepresented in Venice, were more visible than ever before.
One of the standout pavilions at the Biennale was the Holy See Pavilion organized by the Vatican. Titled “Con i Miei Occhi (With My Eyes),” the exhibition focused on human rights and was held at the Giudecca Women’s Detention Home, an active prison for female inmates. The show featured works by artists such as Claire Fontaine, Sonia Gomes, Corita Kent, and Maurizio Cattelan, all exploring the theme of freedom. Pope Francis even made history by visiting the Biennale, becoming the first Pontiff to do so.
The Nigeria Pavilion showcased the work of eight Nigerian artists, addressing the violence of colonial history and seeking a path forward. The Japan Pavilion, curated by Sook-Kyung Lee, featured installations by Yuko Mohri that tackled environmental collapse and sustainability using everyday objects. The South Korea Pavilion, represented by artist Koo Jeong A, delved into scent memory with an installation called “Odorama Cities.”
However, not all pavilions proceeded as planned. The Israel Pavilion, curated by Ruth Patir, was closed in protest of the war in Gaza, with the artist and curators refusing to open the exhibition until a cease-fire and hostage release agreement were reached.
Other notable pavilions included the U.S. Pavilion, featuring Jeffrey Gibson’s exploration of identity and Indigenous histories, and the Australia Pavilion, where Archie Moore’s work on Indigenous Australian history won the Golden Lion prize. The Canada Pavilion, curated by Kapwani Kiwanga, used Venetian seed beads to create a dramatic installation called “Trinket.”
At the Palazzo Grassi, multimedia artist Ryan Gander installed an animatronic work featuring a life-size model of a mouse philosophizing about life and death. Overall, the 2024 Venice Biennale showcased a diverse range of voices and perspectives, reflecting the complexities of our current global landscape.
