The 18th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale, titled “The Laboratory of the Future,” shifts its focus to Africa, presenting an ambitious exploration of the continent’s historical societies as a source of inspiration and a blueprint for global solutions. Curated by Lesley Lokko, the Biennale challenges entrenched concepts and invites visitors to question how Africa’s rich history can fuel radical imagination and foster cross-cultural collaborations.

Embracing the theme of the Biennale, “The Laboratory of the Future,” Africa emerges as a place of exploration, offering valuable insights into climate, land rights, decolonization, and cultures. By delving into Africa’s complex past, the Biennale aims to transcend imposed colonial borders and unveil the continent’s diverse identities as powerful catalysts for creativity.

Theme of the bienalle this year is: The Laboratory of the Future

The division of Africa by colonial powers disregarded its cultural diversity, leading to the erasure of ethnic societies’ cultural structures and the emergence of new national identities. The Biennale urges us to reassess the impact of this dual identity and consider how it can fuel innovative thinking. It emphasizes the urgent need for cross-cultural collaboration as a means to imagine and shape Africa’s future.

Through captivating installations, the Biennale gives voice to Africa’s constructed histories. One such installation, “Counteract” by Kere Architecture, offers a glimpse into the urban landscapes of Burkina Faso. It juxtaposes graphics showcasing utilitarian elements like advertisements, shop names, and public information, with a powerful message inscribed on the installation wall: “Just because our history was intercepted by others, does not mean our future has to be.” This thought-provoking piece celebrates the past, acknowledges the present, and sets a course for a different approach to West African architecture.

Artist Olalekan Jeyifous contributes to the Biennale with an installation called “All-Africa Protoport (AAP).” This visionary creation presents a potential future that draws upon the rich histories of indigenous African renewable technologies, inspiring contemplation and reflection.

The duality of the African identity raises profound questions about the role of art, design, and architecture. The Biennale challenges us to imagine a national architecture that embraces multiple ethnicities, and to reinvent traditional architectural styles in the context of modern national borders. These questions spark a journey of exploration and knowledge-building, encouraging artists and designers to embrace cross-cultural collaborations.

The Biennale highlights the transformative power of collaboration among societies with shared cultural histories but divergent national identities. By dismantling historical and colonial boundaries, Africa’s diverse ethnic and regional groups can engage in meaningful interactions, fostering creativity and innovation.

The concept of collaboration in the African art scene finds its roots in the Pan-African art movement of the early 20th century. This movement aimed to unify African cultures and promote a sense of shared identity, history, and creative expression. Notable art festivals, such as the World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar (1966) and the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos (1977), celebrated the continent’s rich cultural heritage while providing a platform for individual identities. These festivals laid the foundation for collaborative efforts that explore Africa’s multifaceted diversity.

Music serves as a prominent medium for cross-cultural collaboration, exemplified by Salif Keita’s song “Yamore,” featuring Cesária Évora. This soulful blend of languages and cultures weaves together Cape Verdean, English, French, and Bambara, conveying a message of love through linguistic diversity. Such collaborations serve as templates for fostering creativity in other forms of art, design, and architecture.