Tegene Kunbi on Silence, Roots, and Ethiopia's Pavilion at Venice Biennale
In a conversation with Artribune, Ethiopian artist Tegene Kunbi elaborates on her exhibition 'Shapes of Silence' at the Ethiopia Pavilion, part of the 61st Venice Biennale, which will be displayed at Palazzo Bollani until November 22, 2026. Born in Addis Ababa in 1980, Kunbi has produced more than thirty significant pieces that merge abstraction, painting, and fabric. Her works utilize both handwoven textiles from her mother and industrial materials. She delves into themes of cultural coexistence and the complexities of silence in Ethiopia. Influenced by her time in Milan, she emphasizes the revival of the Ethiopian art scene and advocates for improved infrastructure and financial support for emerging artists. This pavilion, backed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism, signifies Ethiopia's second appearance after 2024.
Key facts
- Tegene Kunbi is the artist of the Ethiopia Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale.
- The exhibition is titled 'Shapes of Silence' and runs until November 22, 2026.
- The pavilion is located at Palazzo Bollani, Castello 3647, Venice.
- Kunbi was born in Addis Ababa in 1980.
- She created over thirty works, mostly monumental, combining abstraction, fabric, and painting.
- Her materials include handwoven textiles by her mother and industrial fabrics for African markets.
- She had solo shows 'Patchwork Freedom' (2023) and 'Dripping Time, Fading Memory' (2024) at Galleria Primo Marella in Milan.
- Galleria Primo Marella has represented her since 2021.
- The pavilion is promoted by the Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism and the Ethiopian Embassy in Italy.
- This is Ethiopia's second participation in the Venice Biennale, after its debut in 2024.
- Kunbi mentions the Ethiopian proverb 'silence is gold'.
- The interview was conducted by Niccolò Lucarelli.
Entities
Artists
- Tegene Kunbi
Institutions
- Artribune
- Galleria Primo Marella
- Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism
- Ethiopian Embassy in Italy
- Scuola di Belle Arti e Design
- Venice Biennale
- Dale Grant Photography
- Ethiopia Pavilion
- Palazzo Bollani
- International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Locations
- Addis Ababa
- Ethiopia
- Venice
- Italy
- Milan
- Palazzo Bollani
- Castello 3647