The article recounts the author's train journey from London to Venice for the 61st Venice Biennale, highlighting the environmental benefits and pleasant experience of traveling by rail versus flying, despite higher costs and longer duration. It then focuses on the Biennale's central exhibition "In Minor Keys" curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, which foregrounds environmental themes through works that engage with earth, nature, and ecological stakes, featuring artists like Otobong Nkanga, Célia Vasquez Yui, Theo Eshetu, Linda Goode Bryant, and Annalee Davis.
This matters because it reflects a growing trend in the art world to address climate change and sustainability not only in artistic content but also in travel and logistics. The Biennale's emphasis on "earthly elements" and ecological consciousness signals a shift in how major international exhibitions can model greener practices and provoke critical reflection on environmental crises, while also raising questions about greenwashing and the true cost of sustainability.