This year’s Venice Biennale started on April 20 and will end on November 24, 2024.
By Hope Ibiale
The 60th edition of the Art Biennale (La Biennale d’Arte di Venezia) is currently happening in Venice, Italy, and 13 African countries are billed to showcase some of their finest works in the festival. With this number of African countries, this year’s Venice Biennale sees the highest number of participants from the African continent. Countries like Nigeria, Seychelles, Egypt, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe return to Venice Biennale, while Benin, Senegal, Tanzania, and Ethiopia will debut at the cultural exhibition.
This year’s Venice Biennale is curated by Brazilian art expert and the 2023 recipient of the Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence, Adriano Pedrosa, with the theme, “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere”.
Here are the details of the exhibitions from the selected African countries:
Republic of Benin – Everything Precious Is Fragile
Commissioner: José Pliya
Curator: Azu Nwagbogu
Exhibitors: Chloé Quenum, Moufouli Bello, Ishola Akpo, Romuald Hazoumè
Venue: Arsenale
For its debut, Benin’s official curator José Pliya recruited artists, Chloé Quenum, Ishola Akpo, Moufouli Bello, and Romuald Hazoumé for pieces that explore subjects of slavery, traditional religious practices, and Amazon motifs under the theme “Everything Precious is Fragile”.
Cameroon – Nemo propheta in Patria
Commissioner: Serge Achille Ndouma
Curators: Paul Emmanuel Loga Mahop, Sandro Orlandi Stagl
Exhibitors: Jean Michel Dissake, Hako Hankson, Kendji & Ollo Arts, Patrick-Joël Tatcheda Yonkeu, Guy Wouete, Angelo Accardi, Julia Bornefeld, Cesare Catania, Adélaïde Laurent-Bellue, Franco Mazzucchelli, Rex and Edna Volcan, Giorgio Tentolini, Liu Youju
Venue: Palazzo Donà delle Rose, Fondamente Nove, 5038
With the help of Kendji & Ollo Arts, organic sculptor Jean Michel Dissake, Baroque-leaning artist Patrick-Joël Tatcheda Yonkeu, Hako Hankson, Guy Wouete, Angelo Accardi, Julia Bornefeld, Cesare Catania, Adélaïde Laurent-Bellue, Franco Mazzucchelli, Rex and Edna Volcan, Giorgio Tentolini, and Liu Youju, the Cameroonian group showcases a Carbon Net Zero exhibition.
Democratic Republic of Congo – Vibranium
Commissioner: Joseph Ibongo Gilungula, Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Culture
Curator: Gabriele Giuseppe Salmi
Exhibitors: Aimé Mpane, Eddy Ekete, Steve Bandoma, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, Kongo Astronauts, Cedrick Sungo, Eddy Kamuanga
Venue: IPAB Opere Riunite Buon Pastore, Ex Capella, Castello 77
Congo’s exhibition will reflect the people’s relationship with their country’s natural resources.
Egypt – Drama 1882 – دراما ١٨٨٢
Commissioner: Ministry of Culture Egypt – Accademia d’Egitto a Roma
Curator/Exhibitor: Wael Shawky
Venue: Giardini
Egypt is not a stranger to the Venice Biennale as they are a recurring name on the exhibition’s roster. This year, the exhibition is curated by Wael Shawky, whose exhibition seeks to examine national and religious identity by looking through existing history.
Ethiopia – Prejudice and Belonging
Commissioner: Amb. Demitu Hambisa Bonsa
Curator: Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL
Exhibitor: Tesfaye Urgessa
Venue: Palazzo Bollani, Castello 3647
For its debut, Ethiopia’s exhibition focuses on the work of Tesfaye Urgessa. Their exhibition will be staged through immersive paintings.
Ivory Coast – The Blue Note
Commissioner: Illa Ginette Donwahi
Curator: Simon Njami
Exhibitors: Jems Koko Bi, François Xavier Gbré, Sadikou Oukpedjo, Franck Abd-Bakar Fanny, Marie Claire Messouma Manlanbien
Venue: Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli – Dorsoduro 947
Ivory Coast’s exhibition features pieces from sculptors, photographers, painters, performers, and a multimedia artist.
Nigeria – Nigeria Imaginary
Commissioner: Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Nigeria’s Edo State
Curator: Aindrea Emelife
Exhibitors: Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Precious Okoyomon, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Fatimah Tuggar
Venue: Palazzo Canal, Dorsoduro 3121 (Rio terà Canal)
“Nigeria Imaginary” showcases art that imagines Nigeria’s future. From painting, photography, and sculpture, to AR, sound, and film, Nigeria’s future will be exhibited.
Senegal – Bokk – Bounds
Commissioner: Mariéme Ba
Curator: Massamba Mbaye
Exhibitor: Alioune Diagne
Venue: Arsenale
Senegal’s debut is curated by Mariéme Ba and Massamba Mbaye. Their exhibition will showcase the work of one artist and it explores discrimination, heritage, ecology, and other socio-cultural concerns plaguing the African continent.
Seychelles – Pala
Commissioner: Emmanuel D’Offay
Curator: Martin Kennedy
Exhibitors: Jude Ally, Ryan Chetty, Danielle Freakley, Juliette Zelime (aka Jadez)
Venue: Arsenale
Seychelles’ exhibition explores themes of migration, Seychelles’ underwater world, national and social identity, freedom, and many others.
South Africa – Quiet Ground
Commissioner: Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Ambassador of South Africa
Curator: Portia Malatjie
Exhibitors: MADEYOULOOK (Molemo Moiloa & Nare Mokgotho)
Venue: Arsenale
For their seventh time at the Venice Biennale, South Africa’s exhibition explores the theme of land and water displacement, sovereignty, and rehabilitation.
Tanzania – A Flight in Reverse Mirrors
Commissioner: Leah Elias Kihimbi, Deputy Director Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports
Curator: Enrico Bittoto
Exhibitors: Haji Chilonga, Naby, Happy Robert, Lutengano Mwakisopile (Lute)
Venue: La fabbrica del vedere, Calle del Forno, Cannaregio 3857
Through their exhibitions, Haji Chilonga, Naby, Happy Robert, and Lutengano Mwakisopile create four rooms that represent different eras in Tanzania. The exhibited works – paintings, woodcuts, and site-specific installations – explore themes of travel, migration, nomadism, and the transformations caused by environmental changes.
Uganda – Wan Acel | Tuli Bamu | Turibamwe | We Are One
Commissioner: Juliana Naumo Akoryo
Curator: Elizabeth Acaye Kerunen
Exhibitors: Artisan Weavers’ Collective, Sana Gateja, Taga Nuwagaba, Xenson Ssenkaba, Jose Hendo, Odur Ronald
Venue: Bragora Gallery, Castello 3496
Uganda’s exhibition will feature works from Sanaa Gateja, Taga Nuwagaba, Xenson Ssenkaaba, eco-designer Jose Hendo, Odur Ronald, and the Artisan Weavers’ Collective.
Zimbabwe – Undone
Commissioner: Raphael Chikukwa, National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Curator: Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
Exhibitors: Gillian Rosselli, Kombo Chapfika, Moffat Takadiwa, Sekai Machache, Troy Makaza, Victor Nyakauru
Venue: Santa Maria della Pietà, Castello 3701
Zimbabwe’s exhibition includes works from sculptor Moffat Takadiwa, visual artist and photographer Sekai Machache, and Troy Makaza, who makes his pieces with painted silicone ropes, and more.
The Venice Biennale is an annual international cultural exhibition. Since its creation in 1895, the exhibition has showcased cultural pieces from all over the world, making it one of the most anticipated art exhibitions. This year’s Venice Biennale started on April 20 and will end on November 24, 2024.