Katy

Hessel's

guide

to

the

2024

Venice

Biennale,

featuring

Kapwani

Kiwanga

The Venice Biennale is the art world Olympics. It has taken place every other year since 1895, and sees nations compete for the top Golden Lion Prize with artists ‘representing’ their countries through pavilion-based art installations and exhibitions. Mostly spread out over two sites (the Giardini and Arsenale), there’s also a central international exhibition curated by an individual. This year, it’s Adriano Pedrosa with Foreigners Everywhere.

A phrase derived from the political activist collective, Claire Fontaine – who fight racism and xenophobia – Foreigners Everywhere raises questions such as, what constitutes a foreigner? Are we foreigners in our own country; when we travel abroad (pertinent for the tourist city of Venice); or to our governing establishments? This is made all the more poignant as Pedrosa is the first curator (in 60 Venice Biennales) based in the Global South. Unlike previous years, he’s brought together lesser-known names of all backgrounds, from Indigenous collectives to self-taught artists guided by spiritual visions.