Venezia Africana: A Guide to Venice's African Connections
The book 'Venezia Africana. Arte, culture, persone' by Paul Kaplan and Shaul Bassi, published by Wetlands, offers ten itineraries exploring Venice's historical and contemporary ties with Africa. It reveals African depictions in San Marco, traces of slavery in Ca' Rezzocico, and the story of a former slave who worked in a 19th-century hotel and whose son guided Mark Twain. The guide also covers the Art Enclosures project by Fondazione di Venezia and Bevilacqua La Masa, which brought emerging African artists to Venice, later evolving into AKKA Project. The volume includes a poem by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and a concluding essay by Maaza Mengiste. Published in 2024, 271 pages, €22, ISBN 9791280930231.
Key facts
- Book 'Venezia Africana. Arte, culture, persone' by Paul Kaplan and Shaul Bassi
- Published by Wetlands, a publisher focused on social and environmental sustainability
- Contains ten itineraries exploring Venice's links with Africa
- Highlights African depictions in San Marco, references to Egypt and Ethiopia
- Tells story of a former slave who worked in a 19th-century hotel frequented by Americans
- His son became a guide who accompanied Mark Twain to see Venetian paintings
- Covers Art Enclosures project by Fondazione di Venezia and Bevilacqua La Masa
- Project evolved into AKKA Project, a space for emerging African artists
- Includes poem 'Resurrezione a Venezia' by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
- Concluding essay by Maaza Mengiste
- 271 pages, €22, ISBN 9791280930231, published in 2024
Entities
Artists
- Paul Kaplan
- Shaul Bassi
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
- Maaza Mengiste
- Mark Twain
Institutions
- Wetlands
- Fondazione di Venezia
- Bevilacqua La Masa
- AKKA Project
- Galleria dell'Accademia
- Ca' Rezzonico
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- San Marco
- Corte Ca' del Duca
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Africa