Aindrea Emelife is set to assume the role of curator for the second-ever Nigerian Pavilion at the prestigious Venice Biennale 2024.
Currently in Venice, Emelife collaborates with her team on the installation, expressing palpable excitement for the event’s impending opening on April 20.
The theme of the Nigerian Pavilion, ‘Nigeria Imaginary,’ underscores Emelife’s aspiration to showcase Nigeria’s potential and provoke thought on contemporary issues. Through a diverse selection of artists spanning different ages, regions, and mediums, Emelife aims to offer a multifaceted representation of Nigerian artistry. By challenging conventional perceptions of African art, she seeks to highlight its richness and complexity beyond traditional figurative painting.
Emelife’s illustrious career spans from her early days as an art writer to her notable tenure as a Financial Times columnist at the age of 20, all while pursuing an art history degree at The Courtauld Institute of Art. Her curation of ground-breaking exhibitions, including the acclaimed ‘Black Venus’ in 2022, which explored the legacy of Black women in visual art, showcases her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. Emelife currently serves as the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), a role instrumental in shaping her vision of Nigerian and African art.
In an interview with Wallpaper*, Emelife, reflecting on the significance of Nigeria’s representation in Venice, emphasised the need for African pavilions to be prominently featured on the global stage.
