Nigeria has lifted the veil on plans for its pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, which will take place from 20 April to 24 November 2024. This will be the country’s second time at the event, following its inclusion in the fifty-seventh edition in 2017.
Curated by Nigerian-British art historian Aindrea Emelife, who is curator of contemporary and modern art at the yet-to-be-opened Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin, the exhibition is titled “Nigeria Imaginary“. The exhibition will feature works by eight Nigerian artists, either residing in the country or in the diasporas, including Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Yinka Shonibare, Fatimah Tuggar and Precious Okoyomon, all from different generations and at various stages of their careers.
The commission has made it known that after the Biennale closes, the exhibition will move on to MOWAA, the official organiser of the pavilion, where it will be presented in an expanded form in 2025.
In Venice, the Nigeria Pavilion will be presented in a beautiful historic Palazzo in Dorsoduro, close to the Gallerie dell’Accademia. The spacious venue will open for the Biennale for the first time on this special occasion.
