Critique of the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale's Post-Colonial Approach

Valerio Paolo Mosco critiques the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, arguing it lacks actual architecture and replaces it with didactic, slogan-driven post-colonial narratives. He contends the Biennale abandons architectural form for vague good intentions, citing few examples of real buildings. Mosco notes the absence of conditional verbs and subjunctive moods, reflecting an assertive, non-dubitative tone. He criticizes the curatorial choice of quoting Anatole France at the Arsenale entrance as inappropriate for a show claiming to oppose Western canons. Mosco compares the Biennale to a 'cahiers de doléances' drafted by self-appointed advocates for distant others, without their representation. He praises the Uruguay Pavilion's video on deforestation for its subtlety, contrasting it with the general didacticism. Mosco also highlights two exceptions: Flores and Prats' skill and Adjaye Associates' models, though he finds the latter's International Style colonial references out of scale and incongruent with post-colonial themes. The critique was published on Artribune.