Biennale Arte 2026: Koyo Kouoh's 'In Minor Keys' and the Politics of Disenchantment

The 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh, opens under the shadow of global conflict and colonial legacies. Titled 'In Minor Keys,' the exhibition draws on James Baldwin's 1972 novel 'No Name in the Street' to frame a meditation on loss, resistance, and alternative epistemologies. Featured artists include Ayrson Heráclito, whose performance 'Feed the Head' evokes Yoruba spiritual traditions; Seyni Awa Camara, whose totemic clay sculptures from Senegal are shown posthumously; Vera Tamari, whose installations address Palestinian displacement; Matías Duville, whose salt-and-charcoal installation at the Argentine Pavilion references the country's dictatorship; and Alfredo Jaar, whose 'La fine del mondo' critiques resource extraction. The Biennale runs from 2025 to 2026 in Venice.