Caroline Gueye's WURUS Transforms Palazzo Navagero at Senegal Pavilion, 61st Venice Biennale

At the 61st Venice Biennale, the Senegal Pavilion showcases WURUS, an exhibition by Caroline Gueye, a Senegalese artist, with curation by Massamba Mbaye. The term 'WURUS' translates to 'gold' in Wolof. Gueye transformed the Palazzo Navagero's interior, creating walls and rearranging spaces to merge architecture with sculpture. Guests navigate a dimly lit setting filled with mirrors and reflective elements; brass-and-bronze polymer shapes appear from hidden areas, sometimes visible from one perspective and obscured from another. With a background in fundamental physics and astrophysics, Gueye perceives space as a dynamic network rather than a mere backdrop, linking gold's origins to neutron star collisions. She envisions her installations beforehand, a realization sparked during the 2022 Dakar Biennale, where she earned an award for an immersive piece. The materials evoke gold's essence without being it, highlighting the exhibition's exploration of how appearance influences perceived value. Gueye views visitors as participants, not mere spectators, emphasizing that interpretation varies based on one's viewpoint. Representing Senegal is both a privilege and a significant responsibility for her.