Michael Armitage and Amar Kanwar Dual Exhibitions at Palazzo Grassi

Palazzo Grassi in Venice presents two solo exhibitions as part of the Pinault Collection's 'Venetian Quartet' series, running until January 10, 2027. Michael Armitage's 'The Promise of Change' features 45 paintings and over 100 preparatory works, exploring identity, memory, and global issues through a blend of European and African artistic traditions. Armitage uses lubugo bark cloth from Uganda, emphasizing fragility and cultural heritage. Amar Kanwar's 'Co-travellers' includes two video installations: 'The Torn First Pages' (2004-2008), addressing the struggle for democracy in Burma, and 'The Peacock's Graveyard' (2023), a seven-screen meditation on justice and power with a piano score by Utsav Lal. Both artists examine the tension between documentary and allegory. The exhibitions are curated by Jean-Marie Gallais, with Armitage's show co-organized with Hans Ulrich Obrist. Catalogs are published by Marsilio Arte.