The Venice Biennale - Pavilion of Great Britain

The British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale represents one of the cultural and artistic focal points of the prestigious international exhibition. Its history began in 1938, when the British Council took over its management, transforming it into a platform for some of the most significant British artists of the time. Over the years, the pavilion has hosted a series of exhibitions reflecting the cultural, social, and political transformations of Great Britain, offering a critical and innovative look at contemporary issues. One of the most representative examples is the 2024 exhibition titled “Listening All Night To The Rain”, curated by John Akomfrah. This work intertwines recently filmed materials, archival videos, and still images, using audio and texts from international archives and libraries. The exhibition explores the memories of migrant communities in Great Britain, highlighting diasporic experiences and geopolitical narratives that have shaped these communities. A central theme is the discrimination faced by immigrants in the UK during the country’s post-industrial decline from the 1960s onwards. A emblematic case is that of David Oluwale, a British-Nigerian who tragically died in the River Aire in Yorkshire, a victim of local police brutality. The exhibition uses water as a symbol of memory and historical continuity, referring to the work of immunologist Jacques Benveniste. Akomfrah represents water as a reservoir of narratives from the past, present, and future, and as a metaphor for temporal fluctuations and migratory movements. Images of floods in Bangladesh since the 1980s highlight the impact of climate change and colonial legacy on the region, linking ecological disasters to military conflicts and environmental devastation. In the past, the British Pavilion has hosted equally significant exhibitions. In 2011, Mike Nelson presented “I, Impostor”, a complex installation that recreated sections of a 17th-century caravanserai inside the British pavilion. Nelson’s work, known for its meticulous installations, received great international acclaim and highlighted the dialogue between architectural spaces and historical memories. The British Council has always carefully selected artists and curators to represent the UK at the Biennale, ensuring a continuous evolution of the themes addressed and the expressive methods used. This attention has allowed the British pavilion to remain one of the most relevant and innovative in the entire exhibition, contributing to the dissemination of British culture and art globally.