Leslie Loco, curator of the 18th International Exhibition of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, was deeply impressed by the clever and thoughtful use of the vocabulary of culture in the Emirates. On the sidelines of the international press conference held at the opening of the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, she said: “When we see in the Emirates in general and Abu Dhabi in particular the construction of a major architectural structure, we are amazed at the smart way to use culture in a deliberate way and consider it a source of inspiration.”
Loko pointed to the UAE National Pavilion exhibition Barren Abundance, curated by Faisal Tabbara, and how this exhibition explores the architectural possibilities that can be realized when we reimagine arid landscapes as rich spaces.
“Suggestions from far away can be a great source of inspiration,” she said. I am very excited to see how other geographies affect, and how our presence in another geographical area affects the way we think about resources,” expressing her admiration for the artistic momentum that many Arab Gulf countries are witnessing.
It is noteworthy that the exhibition “Barren Abundance” in the National Pavilion is open to the public in the permanent space of the UAE in the Arsenal Biennale of Venice – Arms Gallery, until November 26. The slogan of the Venice Architecture Biennale for 2023, “Laboratory of the Future,” aims to shed light on Africa and the African diaspora, and shift the focus from the European-oriented view. mechanism.
Regarding the first-of-its-kind Biennale of Islamic Arts, which opened in Jeddah last January, Loko said: “It was fantastic, in terms of the level of energy and in terms of showcasing how arts and culture shape society.”
Loko expressed her feelings about the role that she occupies, as she is the first of African descent to hold the position of curator of the Venice Architecture Biennale, and spoke of her ambition to explore the impact of the African continent on the world, saying: “I grew up in Africa, and I realized that the world that I saw in literature, films, magazines and arts is not It is the world that I know nor the one I came from. So my entire career, both in writing and in architecture, has been about introducing my world to that world. When there is an opportunity in a place like this to express ourselves to the rest of the world, it is an opportunity you cannot refuse.” She said that she invites everyone to be “change makers”, considering that words are a bridge between imagination and material reality.