Sonia Boyce to Represent UK at 59th Venice Biennale with Pavilion Focused on Connection and Improvisation

Sonia Boyce will represent the United Kingdom at the 59th Venice Biennale, which takes place from 23 April to 27 November, 2022. Her exhibition for the British Pavilion in the Giardini will incorporate various media and print works, aiming to bring people together through improvisation and guide visitors on a journey across different spaces. Boyce describes the Biennale as a litmus test for contemporary artistic thought and a prestigious event that generates significant conversation across the global art world. She notes the difficulty of claiming art as purely national or universal in the 21st century, emphasizing overlooked art practices within the UK. Artist Claudette Johnson, whose work she encountered in 1982, has been a lasting influence. Boyce looks forward to seeing the main exhibition, The Milk of Dreams, curated by Cecilia Alemani, anticipating its focus on human imagination. She recalls the excitement of arriving in Venice by water bus, especially at night. Concurrently, Boyce is featured in Radio Ballads at Serpentine North until 29 May.