For the first time in its history, Benin will be participating in the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, from 20 April to 24 November 2024.

Titled “Everything Precious Is Fragile”, the exhibition explores the extensive history of Benin through the themes of the slave trade, the figure of the Amazon, and Vodun spirituality. Entitled "Everything Precious Is Fragile" this exhibition will explore the rich history of Benin, touching on themes such as the slave trade, the Amazon motif, spirituality, and the Vodun religion. It also delves into the contemporary realm with the Gèlèdé philosophy, focusing on "rematriation" a feminist interpretation of restitution that advocates not only the return of objects but also Beninese philosophy and ideals predating the colonial era.

The famous curator, Azu Nwagbogu, and his curatorial team - curator Yassine Lassissi and scenographer Franck Houndégla - have selected four major artists to represent Benin for this 60th edition: Chloé Quenum, Moufouli Bello, Ishola Akpo, and Romuald Hazoumè.

Led by Azu Nwagbogu, they aim to convey a narrative of African feminism, with an emphasis on Beninese feminism. As José Pliya, the commissioner of the Benin Pavilion, states, "Benin will then be, in the words of Léopold Sédar Senghor, at the great 'rendezvous of giving and receiving'."

This participation marks Benin's commitment to actively promoting its artistic and cultural scene. It aligns with the recent return in 2021, of 26 royal treasures looted during the French colonial conquest of the Danxomè kingdom. In the wake of this event, the exhibition "Art du Bénin d'hier et d'aujourd'hui, de la restitution à la révélation" (Benin's Art of Yesterday and Today, from Restitution to Revelation) presented in Cotonou, and now touring several countries around the world, paved the way for Benin's presence at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

The Benin Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2024 is presented by the Agence de Développement des Arts et de la Culture (ADAC) on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts.