Ghana's 2022 Venice Biennale pavilion features three artists exploring freedom through Pan-African symbols

Ghana's second national pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale presents 'Black Star: The Museum as Freedom,' curated by Nana Oforiatta Ayim. The exhibition features installations by Na Chainkua Reindorf, Afroscope, and Diego Araúja, examining freedom across time, technology, and borders. Its title references the Ghanaian national emblem, tracing it to Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line and the Back-to-Africa movement, alongside Pan-African and anti-colonial campaigns. Reindorf's work constructs a mythical women's society called Mawu Nyonu, challenging male-dominated secret societies. Afroscope investigates intersections of spirituality, nature, and technology, while Araúja reflects on the Atlantic Ocean as both divider and unifier. The exhibition operates through Ayim's Mobile Museum concept, which travels to Ghanaian communities for co-curation and exchange. In a statement, Ayim noted Ghana's ongoing struggle with systems not designed for its context, emphasizing the formation of new frameworks drawing on rich histories with discernment. The pavilion marks Ghana's sophomore participation in the biennale.