Haiti’s first national pavilion at the Venice Biennale: anachronism or illuminating opportunity?

Abstract

A barrage of criticism has been levelled against the Venice Biennale’s national pavilion structure in recent decades, chiefly accusing it of anachronism on account of its Western bias. Yet the tide has begun to turn, making much of this criticism sound a little worn-out. As this event increasingly attracts debuting ‘non-Western’ national exhibitors each year, its pavilion structure is being reassessed. Haiti was one such debutant at the 54 th edition of La Biennale di Venezia held in 2011. This article explores in detail the debates raised by Haiti’s national pavilion, particularly as they related to the central exhibition theme of ILLUMInations conceived by Bice Curiger, International Art Exhibition Director for 2011. It considers: how the national pavilion structure at the Venice Biennale was challenged, and how wider understanding of it was deepened through Haiti’s recent participation; and what Venice’s national pavilion structure can offer to a post-colonial nation such as Haiti.