Venice Art Biennale 2024: 8 Must-See Pavilions

Venice, a city of history and mystery, is once again at the forefront of the global art scene, hosting the 60th International Art Exhibition titled "Stranieri Ovunque—Foreigners Everywhere." Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, this year’s Biennale extends beyond just an art exhibition; it is a profound narrative on cultural exchange, environmental sustainability and the interwoven fabric of global identity. From April 20 to November 24, 2024, the Biennale transforms Venice into a canvas of multicultural dialogue, showcasing works that provoke, inspire and unite. Here are the eight pavilions and exhibitions that stand out in this year's compelling lineup.

German Pavilion—At Giardini

Curated by Çağla Ilk, the German Pavilion's "Thresholds" confronts the ambiguous zones separating nations, cultures and historical eras. This year, artists Yael Bartana and Ersan Mondtag spearhead a thought-provoking installation that delves into the concept of belonging through mixed media, including site-specific installations and video works.

The exhibit stretches to La Certosa, allowing visitors to physically cross waters, echoing the metaphorical thresholds addressed in their works, thereby enriching the dialogue about migration and the interaction of disparate cultures.

French Pavilion—At Giardini

In the French Pavilion, Julien Creuzet, supported by the Chanel Culture Fund, presents a complex auditory and visual journey that draws heavily on his Caribbean roots. His exhibition combines digital media, sound installations, and poetic collages to create a narrative that traverses continents and histories.

Creuzet's work often includes elements that reference oceanic voyages and cultural syncretism, illustrating the interconnectedness of global diasporas and the lingering echoes of colonial histories in contemporary cultural expressions.

Danish Pavilion—At Giardini

Inuuteq Storch transforms the Danish Pavilion with "Rise of the Sunken Sun," a compelling photographic essay on modern Greenlandic life juxtaposed with historical imagery.

Storch's work immerses visitors in the everyday realities and the stark, beautiful landscapes of Greenland. The exhibition’s soundscape, which features ambient Arctic sounds, complements the visual narrative, offering a multi-sensory reflection on Greenlandic identity, resilience, and the impact of environmental and cultural changes on indigenous communities.

Senegalese Pavilion—At Arsenale

Making its striking debut, the Senegalese Pavilion showcases Alioune Diagne's artwork in "Bokk – Bounds." Diagne uses a vibrant palette and fragmented, puzzle-like compositions in his paintings to explore themes of community, daily life, and societal challenges in Senegal.

The centerpiece, a traditional canoe adorned with Senegalese textiles, symbolizes journeys of migration and the intertwined histories of people, serving as a profound commentary on unity and the shared narratives that shape human existence.

Romanian Pavilion—At Giardini

At the Romanian Pavilion, Șerban Savu’s "What Work Is" delves into the dichotomy of labor and leisure through a series of deeply humanistic paintings. Savu captures serene moments of daily life, often showing individuals in reflective postures against backdrops that suggest a pause in their routine.

His works, set amidst Romania's shifting economic landscape, invite viewers to ponder the personal impacts of societal change and the universal quest for balance between work and rest.

Republic Of China Pavilion—At Arsenale

The China Pavilion, under the theme "Atlas: Harmony in Diversity," elegantly navigates the continuum between ancient Chinese art traditions and contemporary artistic expressions. This exhibition is split into "Collect" and "Translate" segments, featuring a digital archive of historic artworks alongside modern pieces that draw inspiration from these artifacts. The juxtaposition fosters a dialogue that not only spans ages but also highlights the universal themes of harmony and cultural continuity.

United States Pavilion—At Giardini

Jeffrey Gibson’s vibrant showcase at the U.S. Pavilion celebrates the diversity of Indigenous and multicultural influences through his use of traditional crafts like beadwork and textiles, combined with modern artistic elements.

Gibson's installations and artworks create a dynamic narrative space that reexamines and celebrates the complexity of American identities, emphasizing the rich, often underrepresented stories of Indigenous and minority communities within the broader American dialogue.

The International Exhibition By Adriano Pedrosa

Curator Adriano Pedrosa orchestrates the central exhibition of the Biennale, "Stranieri Ovunque," which features works from 331 artists focusing on themes of migration and identity. Not to be overlooked is the gigantic mural painting of the facade of La Biennale’s central pavilion at Giardini, painted by a group of indigenous Amazonian artists “Movement dos Artists Uni Kuin.”

The exhibition emphasizes textiles and familial legacies, promoting a nuanced discussion on the shared and diverse experiences that define humanity. Through this global canvas, Pedrosa encourages viewers to perceive the foreign not as distant or other, but as an integral part of the collective human story.