Centuries of Endurance Undergird “In Minor Keys”
Hyperallergic reviewed “In Minor Keys,” the main exhibition of the 2026 Venice Biennale, describing it as a posthumous project initiated by Cameroonian-Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, who died of liver cancer at age 57 after being named curator. The exhibition includes work by 111 international artists and emphasizes representation from Africa, the Caribbean, and their diasporas, framing themes of poetry, ritual, mourning, struggle, and beauty rather than rage and retribution. Kouoh’s curatorial statement—written before her death—encourages viewers to “Take a deep breath, exhale, drop your shoulders, close your eyes,” and the show’s completion was led by a team including Rasha Salti, Marie Hélène Pereira, Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Siddhartha Mitter (who edited the catalogue), and Rory Tsapayi. The review also notes the exhibition’s explicit political context, including references to Gaza and protest signage, while positioning the show as centered on endurance and self-forgiveness.
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