Conspicuous Nationalisms in African Art at the 54th Venice Biennale

This review considers the curatorial strategies employed by each pavilion at the Fifty-Fourth Venice Biennale in 2011 and the ways that they represent national perspectives through themed group exhibitions. The works of individual artists are discussed in terms of their contribution to the curators’ intentions. The new pavilions representing Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Haiti brought an influx of artistic positions to Venice but also demonstrated anxiety about under-or misrepresenting their art scenes back home.