Top & Flop: The Best and Worst of the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale

Valentina Silvestrini of Artribune offers a critical assessment of the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Lesley Lokko under the theme "The Laboratory of the Future." Lokko, the first curator directly appointed by President Roberto Cicutto, shifted focus toward uncomfortable facts such as the exploitation of natural resources and its impact on communities. She introduced an innovative label format featuring portraits of the architects, aiming to reduce distance between the public and designers, many of whom are young and from the Global South. The Biennale marked a generational shift, with established "archistars" like Norman Foster and Kengo Kuma present but overshadowed by emerging talents such as Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan, who were announced as designers of two new museums in Saudi Arabia. However, the review also highlights several flaws: the lack of narrative on China's infrastructural investments in Africa, the absence of a dedicated section for African states beyond the Niger Pavilion, and the ongoing debate about how much traditional architecture (models, drawings) should appear in an architecture exhibition. The collateral exhibitions in Venice were deemed weak, with many institutions presenting lackluster shows. The article also notes that the Biennale's extended six-month duration complicates a final assessment, but the preview days already revealed significant shifts.