Biennale 2024: 5 Must-See Works
A few days ago, the Manaly team visited the 2024 Biennale Arte to discover the most astonishing works. Join us on this artistic journey and read on to find out the five pieces that impressed us the most!
The 2024 Biennale Arte: “Foreigners Everywhere”
Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, this year’s edition explores the theme of the “foreigner” in all its facets. Venice transforms into a cultural crossroads, hosting a grand international exhibition in the Giardini and Arsenale, enriched by numerous national pavilions and a rich collateral program of exhibitions, projects, and performances. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit it until November 24, 2024. If you want to learn more about the history of the Biennale, click here!
The 5 Works at the 2024 Biennale Arte That Captivated Us
- Yinka Shonibare: A Nomadic Astronaut Right at the entrance, we were greeted by the incredible work of Yinka Shonibare, a world-renowned British-Nigerian artist. His series “Refugee Astronaut” features a life-sized astronaut adorned with “African” fabrics, loaded with symbolism. This figure speaks to us about the challenges of displacement, the ecological crisis, and environmental neglect, questioning the unsustainable pursuit of perpetual growth and colonial connotations.
- Mataaho Collective: Weaving Life A little further along, we immersed ourselves in the work of the Mataaho Collective, formed by four Māori women artists. Their installation “Takapau,” observable from multiple perspectives, draws inspiration from the traditional ceremonial mat. However, it weaves carefully selected materials to create a complex structure. The magic of lights and shadows on the woven patterns provided us with a unique visual and sensory experience.
- Naminapu Maymuru-White: Rivers of Stars The art of Naminapu Maymuru-White, a Yolŋu Elder, transported us to the heart of the night sky. Her bark paintings, with twisting and turning rivers of stars, offer an immersive view of the Milky Way and the Milŋiyawuy river. Each star represents past, present, and future souls, intertwining the physical and ancestral worlds in a multidimensional work.
- Dana Awartani: Healing the Wounds Dana Awartani’s installation, Come, let me heal your wounds. Let me mend your broken bones (2024), is a powerful requiem for the destroyed historical and cultural sites in the Arab world. Each tear in the silk fabric marks a devastated site, carefully mended to symbolize the scars of the real world. The use of natural dyes from herbs and spices adds another layer of meaning, connected to the sacred healing properties of Kerala’s textile traditions.
- Aravani Art Project: Explosion of Colors The work of the Aravani Art Project, a collective of cis and transgender women, impressed us with its explosion of colors. The mural commissioned for the Biennale explores the experiences of trans bodies and nature, challenging dominant norms and offering a narrative of hope and acceptance. The vibrant colors, inspired by Indian tradition and LGBTQ+ and trans flags, transported us to a world of diversity and inclusion.
Manaly at the Icelandic Pavilion
This year, Manaly is not just a collaborator but an integral part of the Iceland Pavilion’s work. Artist Birgisdóttir invites visitors to reflect on our connection to objects through a multisensory experience. For this installation, she asked us to provide a branded chair and table, evoking the theme of mass production criticized by the artist. Learn more in our dedicated article, click here.
If you have a project or idea you want to realize, remember that Manaly is the creative partner you can count on. Don’t hesitate to contact us! In the meantime, you can check out our previous projects, click here!
