Burberry is proud to announce its return as the headline sponsor of the British Pavilion for the 60th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, and to celebrate British creativity during the opening week.
This year, the British Council has commissioned artist and filmaker John Akomfrah RA to represent Great Britain. Akomfrah, who was recently honoured with a knighthood in the 2023 UK Honours list, is known for his art films and multi-screen video installations, which explore a plethora of social issues including racial injustice, diasporic identities, migration and climate change. Entitled 'Listening All Night To The Rain', Akomfrah's commission brings together eight interlocking and overlapping multimedia and sound installations into a single immersive environment to tell the stories of migrant diasporas in Britain.
"(I'm) trying to create a space where people can experience, understand and engage with questions of acoustemology: a sonic way of knowing and being in the world. This is at the core of the Pavilion - be it the ethics, the aesthetics, the problematics, the memories or the histories of listening. When you're listening, you're tuned into your own dreams and ambitions, and to the stories that people tell, unearthing narratives. The key visual motif of the Pavilion - flooding - revisits concerns about climate change but uses the occasion of the approaching crises to encourage a re-thinking of our past. It's a moment to take a detour through avenues of memory, suggesting paths perhaps not taken because we weren't listening."
Burberry has a longstanding legacy and commitment to supporting arts and culture at home and abroad. From working closely with art institutions to collaborating with contemporary British artists, Burberry is proud to continue celebrating the best of British creativity and bring it to a global audience.
As part of the celebration, Burberry hosted two events during the opening week, including a private-in conversation for podcast, Talk Art. The discussion took place between Akomfrah, Curator Tarini Malik, Associate Curator for the British Pavilion Shane Akeroyd, and Talk Art founders, Russell Tovey and Robert Diament.
Burberry also hosted an evening at the iconic Harry's Bar to bring together friends and family of the British luxury brand alongside Burberry Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee and John Akomfrah. Guests in attendance included Alvaro Barrington, Antonia Marsh, Alex Eagle, Bianca Arrivabene, Bianca Brandolini, Daniel Lee, Emily King, Honey Dijon, John Akomfrah, Julian Knxx, Katy Hessel, Lynette Yiadom Boakye, Matthew Slotover, Oyinkansola Dada, Rene Matić, Rhea Dillon, Robert Diament, Róisín Tapponi, Russell Tovey, Sadie Coles, Serena Rees, Skye McAlpine, Sophie Hicks, Sydney Lima and Tim Marlow.
‘Listening All Night To The Rain’ will be available to view at the British Pavilion from 20 April to 24 November 2024.
All exhibition imagery courtesy of the British Pavilion and Jack Hems.
