Lubaina Himid's British Pavilion at Venice Biennale Explores Alienation

Lubaina Himid's exhibition at the British Pavilion of the Venice Biennale presents a series of monumental paintings and a wall of painted oars that depict tailors, cooks, architects, gardeners, and sailors—figures who shape Britain but remain outsiders. The installation includes an audio piece with sounds of seagulls, rigging, and bird calls, contrasting a bucolic soundscape with the uneasy glances exchanged by the black figures in the paintings. Twenty-six questions pasted on the wall, such as 'Can flies settle here?' and 'Can poison taste delicious?', underscore the existential angst of not belonging. The show specifically addresses migration and the emotional status of people who move to Britain, though the review criticizes it for implying that alienation is exclusive to migrants, ignoring factors like gender, sexuality, and class. The reviewer notes that while the concept is not Himid's strongest visually, the installation effectively conveys anxiety and discomfort. The exhibition is part of the Venice Biennale 2026.