The Golden Lion of the Biennale Arte 2024 went to Mataaho Collectiveformed by Maori artists Bridget Reweti, Erena Baker, Sarah Hudson and Terri Te Tau.
«We thank Adriano Pedrosa for having made so many queer and indigenous voices speak in this Biennale, it is important to have a platform of expression in Venice», declared the artists, dedicating the prize «to our families, who worked hard to get us here» .
The Australian women’s collective won with the monumental First Nation family treedrawn with chalk.
“We all share responsibilities to care for all living things, today and in the future,” said curator Ellie Buttrose
To receive the Silver Lion at the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale was the Nigerian Karimah Ashadu.
The first time for a trans artist
For the first time in the history of the Venice Biennale, a trans and non-white artist received a honorable mention. This is the Argentine artistin La Chola Poblete.
“I hope to be able to open other doors so that other people like me – he said – can conquer spaces and free themselves from labels.” The second mention went to the artistto 87-year-old Samia Halaby of Palestinian origin, pioneer of digital art. The special mention for national participation went to the Republic of Kosovo.
