The article is a diary entry from the 2026 Venice Biennale, focusing on the exhibition "In Minor Keys" curated by the late Koyo Kouoh. The author describes an emotional experience, beginning with a poem by Refaat Alareer on the Arsenale wall, and highlights works by Guadalupe Maravilla, Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka, and others that address themes of perseverance, healing, and survival. Maravilla's sculptures reference a child kidnapped by ICE, while Hatanaka's linocuts explore bipolar disorder as an adaptive trait. The show also features artist-led collectives like Denniston Hill and fierce pussy, emphasizing institution-building and world-making.
This matters because "In Minor Keys" offers a poignant counterpoint to the biennial's typical spectacle, framing art as a tool for social resilience and spiritual rest. The exhibition's completion without its lead curator, Kouoh, who died before the opening, adds a layer of urgency and reflection on legacy. The article underscores how the biennale can address pressing political and ecological crises through intimate, intergenerational storytelling, making a case for art that nurtures community and imagines alternative futures.