Ranti Bam Debuts Five Black Stoneware Guardians at 61st Venice Biennale
At the 61st Venice Biennale, titled In Minor Keys and curated by Koyo Kouoh, Ranti Bam showcases five handcrafted black stoneware sculptures named Ifa Ile Oja – Black Ifa. Created in 2026, these pieces delve into themes of body, memory, and spirituality, influenced by Yoruba traditions, especially Ifa. In an interview with ART AFRICA, Bam revealed that this series followed her decision to move away from clay totems. She perceives clay as a medium for memory, challenging traditional notions of containment. Her artistic approach is instinctive, emphasizing weight and balance, while leaving the sculptures' identities ambiguous, celebrating the metaphorical essence of art. Her involvement in the Biennale highlights a creative journey, encouraging viewers to recognize the overlooked.
Key facts
- Ranti Bam presents five sculptures titled Ifa Ile Oja – Black Ifa at the Arsenale for the 61st Venice Biennale, In Minor Keys.
- The works are handbuilt black stoneware created in 2026.
- The Biennale is curated by Koyo Kouoh and titled In Minor Keys.
- Bam's practice explores body, memory, spirituality, and the vessel form, drawing on Yoruba traditions and the concept of Ifa.
- The Ifa series began after Bam abandoned an attempt to make totems and returned to the studio three nights later.
- Bam does not use preparatory drawings; forms emerge through physical interaction with clay.
- The Arsenale, a building made from earth, influenced how Bam considered the sculptures inhabiting the space.
- Bam values leaving the sculptures' identities open to interpretation and hopes her work offers viewers creative freedom.
Entities
Artists
- Ranti Bam
- Koyo Kouoh
- Suzette Bell-Roberts
- Casey Kelbaugh
- Jacob Friis-Holm Nielsen
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Arsenale
- ART AFRICA
- James Cohan
- Norr Cohan
- CKA
Locations
- Venice
- Italy