A Flight in Reverse Mirrors

Happy Robert Naby Haji Chilonga Lutengano Mwakisopile For the first time, the United Republic of Tanzania presents a National Pavilion at the upcoming Biennale Arte 2024. The Pavilion is housed at the Fabbrica del Vedere - Archivio Carlo Montanaro in Venice, Calle del Forno - a magical and emblematic location for the exhibited artworks. Tanzania's participation marks a significant milestone for the country's art scene, offering the opportunity to share its culture and creativity with an international audience. The project has come to fruition through the dedication of the Italian Embassy in Tanzania, particularly Ambassador Mahmoud T. Kombo and their team, who embraced the proposal from the Italian Collective "Ultimi Futuristi" in collaboration with CEFA Ets, an NGO based in Bologna that has been aiding the world's poorest communities for 50 years, promoting food self-sufficiency and fundamental rights. Leading the project as the Pavilion Commissioner is Mrs. Leah Kihimbi, Assistant Director of Arts at the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports in Tanzania, bringing extensive experience in the arts as well as the promotion of Tanzanian culture. The Pavilion's curator will be Enrico Bittoto, an expert in modern art, historical avant-gardes, and sociology, known for curating various publications on the subject and private archives related to the 20th century. The Pavilion explores the intricate interaction between humans and nature, focusing on the evolution of the concept of the "Other," embodied in the archetype of the trickster, a mythological figure that acts as a mediator between the divine and the human. Throughout history, perceptions of nature and the "Others" have often bred prejudice and distrust, fueled by ignorance. The exhibition project aims to highlight the importance of transcending such preconceptions to facilitate constructive dialogue. It reflects on the awareness of values such as peace, hospitality, and respect for diversity, emphasising the need to consider humans as an integral part of nature and to recognise the common thread uniting all living beings. Understanding this connection becomes crucial in addressing current challenges and building a more harmonious vision of our role within the Earth's ecosystem. The National Pavilion of the United Republic of Tanzania will showcase the works of four artists who eloquently represent the diversity and richness of the country's artistic expression in a dialogic relationship with a European artist. The selected artists representing Tanzania are: Happy Robert, Naby, Haji Chilonga, and Lute Mwakisopile, each with a unique and distinctive style reflecting the complexity of dynamics, old and new, guiding human interaction with the foreigner and with nature, in line with the general theme of the Biennale Arte 2024 set by its Curator, Adriano Pedrosa. Commissioner: Leah Kihimbi, Deputy Director for Arts from the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports Curator: Enrico Bittoto

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Cannaregio 3857, Fabbrica del Vedere, Calle del Forno

Venice, NY