Archie Moore from Australia has secured the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (Foreigners Everywhere, April 20 - November 24). As a First Nations artist, Moore is the inaugural Australian recipient of this honor.
In his work "Kith and Kin," Moore has drawn a genealogical tree using white chalk on black walls, mapping his Kamilaroi, Bigambul, and British heritage over 65,000 years. This piece serves both as a celebration of First Nation Australian views on ancestry and connection, and as an exploration of profound trauma.
“The judges noted in a statement that within the subdued yet potent space of the Pavilion, Moore dedicated months to manually crafting a vast First Nations genealogical chart with chalk. This artwork embodies 65,000 years of history, both preserved and lost, captured on the dark walls and ceiling, inviting onlookers to engage with the gaps and recognize the delicate nature of this somber collection,” they said.
Moore commented, "Aboriginal kinship systems encompass every living entity within the environment, forming an extensive network of relationships; even the land can act as a guide or parent to a child. We collectively bear a duty of care towards all life, now and in the future."
The Kosovo Pavilion also received a special mention for Doruntina Kastrati's installation, The Echoing Silences of Metal and Skin. This work scrutinizes the deregulation of the labor market following the 1999 Kosovo War. According to the judges, the installation “touches us deeply, reflecting broader feminist activism.”
The Mataaho Collective from New Zealand was awarded the Golden Lion for the best participant in the "Foreigners Everywhere" exhibition, curated by Adriano Pedrosa. Displayed at the Arsenale, their exhibit, "Takapau" (2022), features a large-scale woven installation encircling the main entrance. A representative from the collective expressed gratitude towards Pedrosa for his support of numerous Indigenous and queer communities. During his opening speech, which was attended by Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, Pedrosa remarked on the impressive gathering of both international visitors and locals.
Additionally, special accolades were given to 87-year-old Jerusalem-born artist Samia Halaby and Argentine artist La Chola Poblete for their contributions to the exhibition. Halaby dedicated her recognition to the young journalists in Gaza, noting in a video speech that Pedrosa had included many stateless and indigenous artists at the Biennale.
According to the Biennale's website, Poblete is a transdisciplinary artist who engages with performance, video art, photography, painting, and sculptural works to create intricate queer visuals. The Nigerian-British artist Karimah Ashadu was awarded the Silver Lion as a Promising Young Participant.
Brazilian artist Anna Maria Maiolino and Turkish artist Nil Yalter were honored with the prestigious Golden Lion awards for lifetime achievement at this year's Biennale, where both artists debuted. Pedrosa remarked that Maiolino has become a pivotal figure for numerous generations of artists in Brazil and internationally. She showcased a substantial installation that expands upon her earlier work with clay sculptures.
Yalter displayed a revised version of her installation "Exile is a Hard Job" in the Central Pavilion's first room at the Giardini. She dedicated her award to global peace during the award ceremony. Pedrosa highlighted her as a trailblazer in the global feminist art movement, noting her significant contributions to research on immigration.
Selena Mattei