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The Giardini was incredible. In the British Pavilion was Sonia Boyce’s ‘Feeling Her Way’, comprised of tessellating wallpapers, golden geometric structures and colour tinted moving image works. Boyce’s installation brings together work by five Black female musicians who were invited to improvise, interact and play with their voices
After waiting in line, we reached the Arsenale and there was much to see. We were greeted by Simone Leigh’s work again at the entrance
Just as powerful was Tau Lewis’ intense and impactful works. They were at least three metres high, and hand stitched from scrap fabrics and leathers. Lewis has taken inspiration from the Yoruba masks and the writings of Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka. There were many references, including the quilts of Gee’s Bend, the textiles of Faith Ringgold and the assemblages of Betye Saar. Lewis’ work explores identity, bodies, and nature. We showed Lewis’ earlier work in the Zabludowicz Collection show, ‘Emotional Supply Chain’
I loved these replica works by Lavinia Schulz and Walter Holdt of the 1924 figures
Magdalene Odundo’s anthropomorphic ceramic vases are handmade; it is an incredible feat to create such perfection. Odundo is influenced by Abuja Pottery and considers the body when she makes her work
Nearby were the wonderful works of Ruth Asawa, which were so reflective, sensitive, and domestic, giving a womb-like identity. Asawa describes her work as independent and integral at the same time
It was very special to see the works of Jamian Juliano-Villani. She is providing the viewer with a fake history where the roots can’t be quite placed. The accessibility of images from across history clashes with the relentless presence of the here and now
In the midst of the shadows were the wonderful works of Marguerite Humeau, who is currently showing as part of ‘Among the Machines’ as the Zabludowicz Collection. Humeau is staging sinuous marine sculptures as if caught in a moment of religious rapture. She is trying to understand the mortality beyond the domain of the humans and works with researchers in the fields of zoology biology and palaeontology. Humeau investigates the sounds of extinct creatures and reproduces these prehistoric sounds in her works. She even includes plastic ocean waste in her sculptures
‘The underground nest over the dune’ was and interesting work by Indian artist Prabhakar Pachpute
After a busy day we went out with Martin from Dorotheum to all the evening delights!
