Lyon Biennale 2024 Review: 'Crossing the Water' Navigates Vague Metaphors Across Nine Venues

The 17th Lyon Biennale, themed 'Crossing the Water' and curated by Alexia Fabre, presents the works of 78 artists at nine different locations until January 5. This year's theme focuses on human connections but has faced criticism for its ambiguous metaphor in light of political tensions in Europe. Significant exhibitions include Michel de Broin's Mortier Fati – Lignes de lumière (2024) and Pilar Albarracín's Marmites enragées (2006) at Les Grandes Locos. At the Musée d'Art Contemporain (macLyon), Chantal Akerman's In the Mirror (1971) and Robert Gabris's Asylum – A Poem of Unrest (2024) delve into body image and intersectionality. Additionally, Nadežda Kirćanski's nista spec 1.0 / nothing special 1.0 (2018–24) is displayed at the Institut d'Art Contemporain, while Annette Messager's Eux et nous, nous et eux (2024) is featured at Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie. Critics contend that the biennale sidesteps addressing the rise of far-right politics in France.