The 61st Venice Biennale has announced the 111 participating artists for its main exhibition, titled “In Minor Keys.” Curated by a team of collaborators following the vision of the late Koyo Kouoh, the exhibition includes 105 individual artists and collectives, alongside six artist-led organizations. The show is structured around conceptual motifs such as "shrines," "rest," "procession," and "schools," featuring major installations by artists like Alvaro Barrington, Nick Cave, and Wangechi Mutu, with special tributes to Issa Samb and Beverly Buchanan.
This announcement is significant as it honors the posthumous legacy of Koyo Kouoh, the influential Cameroonian-Swiss curator who died in 2024. By including grassroots organizations and focusing on "minor keys"—subtle emotional and sensory frequencies—the exhibition challenges traditional biennial structures. It also addresses recent controversies, such as the inclusion of Khaled Sabsabi, who was previously dropped as Australia’s representative, signaling a commitment to institutional healing and the radical role of art in society.