The Venice Biennale, a world-renowned contemporary art event, welcomes talented artists from all horizons every year. Considered the most prestigious art event in Europe and the world, it offers invited countries the opportunity to showcase their artistic culture and contemporary creators.
This annual celebration of art represents a unique opportunity to propel artists’ careers onto the contemporary world stage. For its 60th edition, the Venice Biennale is preparing to open its doors to new artistic pavilions. From April 20 to November 24, 2024, this year’s edition, entitled “Foreigners Everywhere“, will feature immersive, multi-faceted exhibitions. Many countries have already confirmed their participation in this exceptional art event.
Benin makes its first appearance on the contemporary art scene at the Venice Biennale
For the first time, Benin will have its own official pavilion, headed by renowned Nigerian art critic Azu Nwagbogu, founder and director of the African Artists Foundation (AAF).
Entitled “Everything Precious Is Fragile“, the Benin pavilion will feature artists Chloé Quenum, Romuald Hazoumé, Moufouli Bello and Ishola Akpo, carefully selected by the curatorial committee to represent Benin at the 60th Venice Biennale.
Chloé Quenum is a visual artist from the Beninese diaspora. Multidisciplinary, her works are conceived from a variety of materials, and her main focus is on sculpture and installation art. In her work, Chloé Quenum remodels the materials she uses to reveal their cultural and historical origins.
Romuald Hazoumè is an internationally renowned visual artist from Benin. He has a unique artistic technique, and uses recycled materials to create his works in order to communicate a strong message to the public. He is best known for his Bidons mask series, and his work can be found in major art collections around the world.
Moufouli Bello questions social constructs through her contemporary art. A young visual and digital artist, she hails from Benin. Through a palette of luminous colors and figurative paintings, she explores the notion of social injustice linked to femininity, the human condition, race and identities.
Ishola Akpo is a visual artist and photographer who explores the many possibilities of digital technology. Originally from Benin, he straddles the boundaries between reality and fiction, tradition and modernity, fixed and plural identities. The contemporary artist’s works are emblematic and rich, revealing his desire to reconnect with his origins.
The “Everything Precious Is Fragile” exhibition in the Benin pavilion represents a unique opportunity for Benin to shine on the world art scene at the Venice Biennale.
Nigeria confirms its presence at this prestigious artistic event
Nigeria, meanwhile, confirms its second participation with the theme “Nigeria Imaginary“, curated by MOWAA’s Curator of Contemporary and Modern Art, Aindrea Emelife.
This group show will present Nigeria from different perspectives and ideas, through the unique and inner vision of eight talented artists such as Precious Okoyomon, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Fatimah Tuggar, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Ndidi Dike and Onyeka Igwe.
Precious Okoyomon is a poet-artist whose works are inspired by the world in its natural state, the pure pleasures of everyday life, racialization and migratory histories. She participated in the 59th Venice Biennale, as well as numerous other group and solo exhibitions.
Tunji Adeniyi-Jones is a painter who creates powerful figurative paintings inspired by his Nigerian origins and British upbringing. Born in the UK and living in New York, his art aims to expand the cultural themes addressed by major Nigerian cultural figures such as Ben Enwonwu, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.
Toyin Ojih Odutola redefines the traditions of portraiture and narrative through a unique and immersive art style. A Nigerian-American visual artist, she is known for her works on paper and multimedia drawings. Using basic materials, she explores the different possibilities offered by visual storytelling, developing a creative personal style.
Abraham Oghobase is a contemporary Nigerian visual artist based in Toronto. His photographic visual art revolves around notions of colonial history, the land and the production of knowledge, among others. In these works, he experiments with the narrative potential of objects and images.
Fatimah Tuggar is a Nigerian interdisciplinary artist based in the United States. Her art questions dominant, linear narratives about gender, race and technology. The contemporary artist uses mediums such as collage and technology to conceive these works.
Yinka Shonibare CBE RA explores the terms of colonialism, postcolonialism and cultural identity in a contemporary context of globalization. The Nigerian artist’s creations describe the intertwined relationship between Africa and Europe.
Ndidi Dike is a self-taught sculptor of international renown, creating art sculptures whose diverse forms are rooted in contemporary politics, pre- and post-colonial slave history, natural resource extraction and geopolitical history, among others.
Onyeka Igwe, an artist and researcher working in film and installation, her works have been presented at numerous art galleries and film festivals abroad. She reforms cinematic perception by playing on editing style, dissonance, reflection and amplification between sound and image.
The Nigerian pavilion will be exhibited in a specially reserved open space in a historic palazzo in Dorsoduro, close to the Gallerie dell’Accademia.
Morocco makes its participation in the 60th Venice Biennale official
As one of the invited African countries, Morocco will reinforce Africa’s presence on the contemporary art scene. The location of the Moroccan pavilion at the entrance to the Arsenal, close to the permanent pavilions, is the result of meticulous scouting by the Minister of Culture and his teams.
For its first participation in the 60th Venice Biennale, Morocco has chosen artist and writer Mahi Binebine to curate its pavilion. With the aim of presenting Moroccan contemporary art at its best, the curator has selected three talented artists. Fatiha Zemmouri, Safaa Erruas and Magida Khattari will be showcased in the space specially designed for the Moroccan pavilion.
Fatiha Zemmouri‘s art practice revolves around the notions of construction, deconstruction, regeneration and transformation. Her work focuses on materials such as wood, coal and earth, as well as natural phenomena such as water, earth and fire. Through an abstract approach, she gives her creations a poetic edge by simplifying their form and materiality, bringing out the full depth of the material.
Safaa Erruas‘ unique artistic approach reveals an art focused on white, a symbolic color which, according to the artist, expresses absence, immateriality, transparency, fragility and the place of possibility. Her works are characterized by an unsettling delicacy and stunning power, following the assembly of fine (fabrics, cotton, paper, etc.) and sharp (needles, glass, razor blades, etc.) materials that capture the public’s attention and engage a neutral discussion.
French-Moroccan multidisciplinary artist Majida Khattari places the female body at the heart of her artistic approach. She uses media such as photography, performance, painting, installation and video to explore and reveal the objectification of female bodies in contemporary societies. Majida Khattari‘s work is inspired by women’s conditions in Arab societies, while also referring to contemporary political events and questions of religion and secularism.
The choice of these female artists highlights their excellence and their significant contribution to contemporary art. As Mahi Binebine explains: “They are among the best artists, and for this first participation, I wanted to give a faithful image of our country. It’s a strong signal that we’re turning towards modernity.” This participation represents a unique opportunity for Morocco to get involved in this not-to-be-missed artistic event, and to promote Moroccan talent and art on an international scale.
“Migration and Reappropriation”: The South African Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale
South Africa joins the African countries participating in the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale. Under the direction of the Institute of Creative Repair and curated by Portia Malatjie, the South African pavilion participates for the seventh time in this international art event, featuring artists Molemo Moiloa and Nare Mokgotho from the MADEYOULOOK art collective.
MADEYOULOOK, an interdisciplinary collective made up of the duo Molemo Moiloa and Nare Mokgotho, draws its inspiration from everyday black practices that are often overlooked or considered insignificant. Their artistic work offers a new perspective on urban life in South Africa.
Under the title “Quiet Ground“, the South African pavilion in Venice will present Dinokana (2024), an exclusive sound installation commissioned specifically for the event. This creation ties in with the exhibition’s theme, highlighting stories of forced migration and land dispossession in South Africa. This theme ties in harmoniously with that of the Venice Biennale, “Strangers Everywhere (Stranieri Ovunque)”.
“Quiet Ground” explores the possibilities of individual and communal reparation in a context where one feels like a “stranger at home“. This approach creates a meaningful link between the South African pavilion and the Biennale, celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa and highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to restore historical injustices related to land and indigenous peoples.
The 2024 South African pavilion will be divided into three sections: art in South Africa, the land as a place of learning, and concepts of reparation through art. The exhibition, accompanied by complementary public programs, will explore the different ways in which dispossessed people are reconnecting with the land through relocation and rehabilitation processes rooted in indigenous knowledge.
Under the theme “… because the land is ours“, the exhibition will highlight ideas and practices aimed at building a sense of belonging by listening to the land as a guide to reorienting and re-rooting oneself in the face of violence and displacement.
Tanzania makes its first appearance at the Venice Biennale !
This year’s Venice Biennale promises to be rich in African artistic contributions. After Benin, Tanzania also joins the list of the first African nations to take part in this global summit of contemporary art. Their pavilion will be housed in the Carlo Montanaro See-Archive Factory in Venice, and will unveil an immersive presentation by artists Happy Robert, Naby, Haji Chilonga and Lute Mwakisopile.
Selected by curator Enrico Bittoto, these contemporary African artists will explore the concept of the “Other“, exploring the relationship between man and nature, anchored in a perspective representative of the trickster, a chimerical figure who acts as a go-between between humans and the divine. The Tanzanian pavilion promises a rich analysis of this complex relationship between man and the environment, highlighting the creativity and relevance of the country’s artistic creation.
“Bokk – Limites”: The Senegalese Pavilion makes its debut at the Venice Biennale 2024 !
Senegal is not to be outdone in the list of African countries participating for the first time in the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art. Led by curators Marième Ba and Massamba Mbaye, the Senegalese pavilion makes its debut at Arsenal under the theme “Bokk – Limites“.
It highlights the works of Alioune Diagne, the eminent Senegalese artist chosen to represent his country at the 60th Venice Biennale. With his innovative “figuro-abstro” artistic approach, Alioune Diagne depicts disparate and precise paintings, exploring crucial themes such as the role of women, discrimination, ecology, as well as notions of transmission and heritage.
The Senegalese pavilion will showcase Alioune Diagne’s unique canvases and exclusive installations, celebrating Senegalese artistic innovation in style.
The brilliance of Egypt in Venice: the Egyptian pavilion at the annual Biennale
Following her recent visit to Italy to consolidate Egyptian-Italian ties, Minister of Culture Dr. Névine Al-Kilani recalls the participation of the Egyptian pavilion at the forthcoming Venice International Biennale. “A very distinguished presence that expresses the particularity of Egyptian culture“, she said.
This affirmation comes to fruition with Egypt’s official presence at the art event under the theme “Drama 1882 – دراما ١٨٨٢“. Under the responsibility of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome, the pavilion showcases the country’s artistic creativity through artist Wael Shawky.
Offering a sometimes political artistic critique to his works, Wael Shawky is a multi-disciplinary artist who tackles current realities sometimes in the past. He studies cultural progress and its new directions, as well as their possible impact on identity. Between films, performances, installations, drawings and sculptures, the Egyptian artist explores a wide selection of media in the expression of his art.
This 60th edition of the Venice Biennale coincides with the contemporary artist’s 60th birthday. Set up at the Giardini, the Egyptian pavilion will showcase Wael Shawky‘s artistic relevance, presenting contemporary Egyptian art at its best.
Zimbabwe art on the Venice Biennale 2024 art scene
Zimbabwe joins the ranks of African countries participating in the 60th edition of this artistic event. Under the artistic direction of Raphael Chikukwa and Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa, the Zimbabwean pavilion will feature artists Gillian Rosselli, Sekai Machache, Moffat Takadiwa, Kombo Chapfika and Troy Makaza. Their exclusive collaboration will result in an inspiring and enriching presentation that reveals the country’s artistic creativity.
A talented visual artist, Gillian Rosselli explores a variety of artistic processes, including acrylic, chalk, collage, wax and clay. The artist’s practice reveals the difficulties of the human person, addressing and linking migratory socio-economic differences to the effects of colonialism on society and cultural heritage.
Through her photographic medium, Sekai Machache carries out an in-depth analysis of the self, revealing behind her lens the full power of cultural and historical utopia. A Zimbabwean-Scottish visual artist and curator, she/they are particularly interested in the commonalities between spirituality, dreaming and her contribution to the conception and dissemination of metaphorical imagery to offer a healing space in the face of notions of colonialism and loss.
Zimbabwean sculptor Moffat Takadiwa specializes in a form of recycled art. He creates original sculptural pieces from obsolete, everyday materials such as aerosol cans, bottle tops and beverage cans, among others. Through this artistic materiality, the contemporary artist denounces the implacable aftershocks of an era subjected to overconsumption, a way, according to Moffat Takadiwa, of “highlighting the fine line between abundance and poverty“.
A talented multi-talented artist, Kombo Chapfika juggles a variety of media, combining them to create unique and innovative works. For him, art is not limited to the use of a single medium, but to the fusion of disciplines enabling a more complete approach. Drawing, painting, design, animation, coding and installations are all artistic forms that enrich Kombo Chapfika’s expression.
Specializing in the design of woven works, Troy Makaza uses painted silicone rope to create unique, spider-web-like, elongated pieces. He examines the unstable relations between the sexes in contemporary Zimbabwe, constructing strong intimate and social allegories in the process, refraining from the full expression of traditional values and liberal attitudes.
The Ethiopian pavilion, a first on the Venice art scene !
Under the theme “Prejudice and Belonging“, Ethiopia unveils its first pavilion at the Venice Biennale. For its debut on the world art scene at the Biennale, the country has chosen Tesfaye Urgessa, a talented contemporary artist who is forging a place for himself in the contemporary art world, to represent its pavilion.
An Ethiopian painter based in Germany, Tesfaye Urgessa is known for his use of classical and Western aesthetic strategies to create works with deep narrative visuals depicting contemporary African society in all its splendor. He is renowned for depicting strong, expressive figures that raise questions about African identity and the continent’s domestic politics.
The contemporary artist sees his participation in the art fair as a “personal milestone, but also a proud moment for Ethiopian art and culture.” The national pavilion will occupy the Palazzo Bolani and will be furnished with Tesfaye Urgessa’s creative and immersive canvases.
More African countries to discover at the Venice Biennale 2024 !
The participation of African countries at this year’s Venice Biennale is truly impressive, highlighting the continent’s creativity and artistic wealth. In addition to the first appearances of nations such as Benin, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Senegal, the art fair has also opened its doors to other African national pavilions making their debut or not on the global art scene in Venice.
Cameroon is taking part under the theme “Nemo Propheta in Patria“. Organized by curators Serge Achille Ndouma, Paul Emmanuel Loga Mahop and Sandro Orlandi Stagl, the Cameroon pavilion will be housed at the Palazzo Donà delle Rose, Fondamente Nove, 5038, and will feature artists 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.
Congo will shine under the theme “LITHIUM” through the artistic practice of Aimé Mpane, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Eddy Ekete, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, Cédric Sungo, Steve Bandoma, Eléonore Hellio and Michel Ekeba from the Kongo Astronauts collective. Under the aegis of curators Joseph Ibongo Gilungula and Michele Gervasuti, James Putnam, the national pavilion will be located at the Gervasuti Foundation – Palazzo Canova, Calle longa Santa Caterina, Cannaregio 4998-5001.
Ivory Coast will present artists Jems Koko Bi, François Xavier Gbré, Sadikou Oukpedjo, Franck Abd-Bakar Fanny and Marie Claire Messouma. Entitled “Blue Note”, the Ivorian pavilion will be managed by Illa Ginette Donwahi and Simon Njami at the Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli – Dorsoduro 947.
Kenya is also taking part in this essential summit of international contemporary art. Under the theme “Roots of Return“, the Kenyan pavilion will be presented under the direction of Milka Mugo and Edward Mwaura Ndekere. The exhibitors chosen to represent the country are Elkana Ong’esa, Gerald Oroo Motondi, Robin Okeyo Mbera, John Tabule Abuya Ogao, Peter Kenyanya Oendo and Charles Duke Kombo.
Uganda updates its participation for this 60th edition of the Venice Biennale with the theme “Wan Acel, Alur for “We are one“. The Ugandan pavilion, led by curators Juliana Naumo Akoryo and Elizabeth Acaye Kerunen, will feature works by Artisan Weavers’ Collective, Sana Gateja, Taga Nuwagaba, Xenson Ssenkaba, Jose Hendo and Odur Ronald at Bragora Gallery, Castello 3496.
This year’s edition of the Venice Biennale promises to be one of the most exciting ever in terms of artistic diversity. From April 20 to November 24, 2024, Venice will be the most diverse and inspiring artistic space of the moment, thanks to this wide selection of national pavilions. Innovation, creativity, culture, heritage and identity are just some of the themes on show!