Venice Diary Day 2: “In Minor Keys” Is a Major Statement on Perseverance and Play

The Venice Biennale’s ‘In Minor Keys’ exhibition opened at the Arsenale on its second day, highlighting themes of perseverance and societal resilience through contemporary art. The show, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, features works that explore survival amid global crises, emphasizing the importance of art as a tool for healing and community-building.

The exhibition begins with a wall poem by Refaat Alareer, written before his death in Gaza in 2023, which underscores themes of hope and perseverance. Works by Guadalupe Maravilla, Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka, Carolina Caycedo, and others emphasize resilience, adaptation, and the capacity for survival across generations and environments. The show also reflects on societal struggles, such as migration, conflict, and climate change, through art that promotes healing and future-building. Due to the recent death of curator Koyo Kouoh, the exhibition was completed by her team, raising questions about how her vision influenced the overall narrative.

Why It Matters

This exhibition matters because it presents art as a means of confronting and transcending global crises, emphasizing resilience as a collective and individual act. It demonstrates how contemporary art can foster societal healing, community resilience, and hope, making it highly relevant amid ongoing conflicts, environmental challenges, and social upheaval worldwide.

Background

The Venice Biennale 2026 is marked by the absence of curator Koyo Kouoh, who passed away before the show’s completion. Her vision aimed to connect art with social activism and community-building, a theme reflected in ‘In Minor Keys.’ Previous editions have also explored resilience, but this year’s focus appears more explicitly on survival and thriving through adversity, influenced by current global crises and the legacy of Kouoh’s leadership.

“”In Minor Keys’ is a show invested as much in the social as in the visual, in the realities of the world as in imaginations of what it might become.'”

— Artnews

“The show aims to nurture society and provide spiritual rest.”

— Curator Koyo Kouoh (posthumous attribution)

What Remains Unclear

It is unclear how the absence of curator Koyo Kouoh will influence the long-term reception and interpretation of the exhibition, or how her vision will be further articulated beyond her team’s efforts. Additionally, the full scope of the works’ thematic connections remains to be seen as the show develops.

What’s Next

The exhibition will continue to evolve over the course of the Venice Biennale, with ongoing installations and performances. Further curatorial insights and critical reviews are expected to deepen understanding of the show’s themes and Kouoh’s legacy. Visitors and critics will observe how the show’s message of resilience resonates amid ongoing global crises.

Key Questions

What is the main theme of ‘In Minor Keys’?

The exhibition focuses on perseverance, resilience, and societal healing through contemporary art, emphasizing survival amidst global crises.

Who curated ‘In Minor Keys’?

Koyo Kouoh was the original curator, but she passed away before the exhibition’s completion. Her team carried out her vision.

How does the exhibition relate to current global issues?

It reflects themes of conflict, migration, climate change, and societal resilience, using art as a means of coping and envisioning future possibilities.

What works are featured in the exhibition?

Works include Guadalupe Maravilla’s sculptures, Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka’s linocuts, and installations by Carolina Caycedo, among others, all emphasizing perseverance and adaptation.

What is the significance of the exhibition’s title, ‘In Minor Keys’?

It alludes to both musical tonality and the concept of resilience in small, incremental steps, symbolizing hope and endurance in challenging times.