In Minor Keys: how Venice's international exhibition was brought to life after the death of artistic director Koyo Kouoh

"The title of the exhibition and a text written by Kouoh were published soon after her death, immediately reflecting how advanced the fundamental themes of the Biennale were."

"Each of the five members of La squadra spoke, emphasising their collective role in realising Kouoh's vision, rather than presenting themselves as replacements."

"Significantly, they did not take questions and none was put forward as a spokesperson. The message was clear: this is Koyo Kouoh's exhibition."

"It is striking, and deeply pertinent to the overarching themes, format and pacing of the exhibition, that Kouoh begins her text on it."

The 61st Venice Biennale is marked by the tragic death of its artistic director, Koyo Kouoh. Her collaborators, known as 'la squadra di Koyo Kouoh', had been working with her prior to her passing to finalize the exhibition's themes and artist list. The exhibition features 111 invited artists and emphasizes Kouoh's vision. At a press conference, her team highlighted their collective role in realizing her vision without presenting themselves as replacements. The exhibition's themes reflect Kouoh's advanced ideas and collaborative practice.

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