Lubaina Himid's installation at the British pavilion of the Venice Biennale presents monumental paintings and a wall of painted oars depicting tailors, cooks, architects, gardeners, and sailors—figures who shape Britain. The work is accompanied by an audio piece of bucolic country sounds, but the black figures in the paintings exchange sideways glances of discomfort, questioning whether they truly belong. The exhibition is anchored by 26 philosophical questions on the wall, such as "Can flies settle here?" and "Can poison taste delicious?"
The review argues that while the show effectively conveys anxiety and the feeling of never being fully accepted, it is not Himid's best work visually and oversimplifies the concept of belonging by focusing exclusively on migration and race, ignoring gender, sexuality, and class. The critic notes that a painting show by a celebrated artist is not the most exciting use of the pavilion space, but acknowledges the installation's success in portraying a darker truth about Britain: that for many, it will never feel like home despite its green and pleasant appearance.