BRICS National Pavilions at the 2019 Venice Biennale
The 2019 Venice Biennale featured national pavilions from BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—each addressing various social and political issues. Brazil's pavilion, curated by Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro, showcased 'Swinguerra,' a film by Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca that examines the Swingueira dance in Recife as a means of social cohesion. The State Hermitage Museum organized Russia's pavilion, which displayed Alexander Sokurov's multimedia project inspired by Rembrandt's 'The Prodigal Son' and an installation by Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai referencing the 1905 Bloody Sunday. Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birthday, India's pavilion highlighted a century of Indian art. China's pavilion featured works that reflect modernity influenced by Maoist ideologies. South Africa's pavilion, curated by Nikule Mabaso and Nomusa Makhubu, focused on post-apartheid challenges, showcasing pieces by Tracey Rose and others.
Key facts
- The 2019 Venice Biennale featured national pavilions from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
- Brazil's pavilion curator Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro selected Wagner & de Burca's film 'Swinguerra' about the Swingueira dance from Recife.
- The State Hermitage Museum organized Russia's pavilion for the first time, with works by Alexander Sokurov and Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai.
- Sokurov's installation uses Rembrandt's 'The Prodigal Son' and references the 1905 Bloody Sunday massacre.
- India's pavilion coincided with the 150th anniversary of Gandhi's birth and included works by Nandalal Bose, Maqbool Fida Husain, G.R. Iranna, Jitish Kallat, and Ashim Purkayastha.
- Jitish Kallat's video installation reproduces Gandhi's letter to Hitler asking him to renounce war.
- China's pavilion featured a non-traditional installation with light works, visionary paintings, and biomorphic sculptures.
- South Africa's pavilion, titled 'The stronger we become,' included Tracey Rose, Dineo Seshee Bopape, and Mawande Ka Zezile.
- Dineo Seshee Bopape's work focuses on the year 1981 and the performative blitzes of Umkonto We Swizwe.
- The article was written by Niccolò Lucarelli for Artribune.
Entities
Artists
- Bárbara Wagner
- Benjamin de Burca
- Alexander Sokurov
- Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai
- Nandalal Bose
- Maqbool Fida Husain
- G.R. Iranna
- Jitish Kallat
- Ashim Purkayastha
- Tracey Rose
- Dineo Seshee Bopape
- Mawande Ka Zezile
- Rembrandt van Rijn
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Adolf Hitler
- Niccolò Lucarelli
Institutions
- Fundação Bienal de São Paulo
- State Hermitage Museum
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Brazil
- Recife
- Russia
- India
- China
- South Africa
- Haripura