Pavilion Days at Biennale di Venezia Photo: Grenada Pavilion
Convened by a group of National Pavilion Commissioners, Grenada had the privilege of being the only representative from the Global South.
This gave particular privilege to the special tours of the Grenada pavilion to very engaged and specialised groups of attendees. Commissioner Susan Mains led the tour, while Asher Mains explained the critical thinking that went into crafting the call and statement that guided the curation of the artist chosen through an open call.
The Poetics of Correspondence followed Koyo Kouoh’s theme of In Minor Keys, seeking the quiet moments of communication. Asher Mains further expanded on the idea that correspondence means to co-respond, thus completing the back-and-forth of communication. Certainly, the works of art spoke to each other, with Russell Watson’s video of breath underwater flowing into Arthur Daniel’s photograph of the roots of a mangrove tree. The quiet conversation continued in Edward Bowen’s large paintings, and was bookended by the intense mark-making of the textile work of Lilo Nido and Chris Mast. A documentation video of Jeverson Ramirez playing well-known Italian music on his steelpan while being transported by traditional rowing in a sandalo through the canals of Venice provided a grand finale to the Grenada–Venice connection.
Joined by international artists, the pavilion was filled with paintings that followed the same theme, with several of the artists having visited Grenada in the past. Those experiences then informed their choices of composition, colour and form. It was mature work, quite fitting for a national pavilion.
A special guest arrived via technology to give an artist talk. Billy Gerard Frank shared his trajectory since his appearance in the Grenada Pavilion in 2019 and 2022. His film, Second Eulogy, has been acquired by the Brooklyn Museum, and he has gone on to have several museum shows.
A group of students from an art school in the Netherlands who attended represented a diverse audience, as well as passersby who became captivated by the discussion.
In its 9th participation, the Grenada Pavilion has become an important platform for furthering the careers of the artists. Jason deCaires Taylor (2017, 2024) has installed an additional underwater sculpture park in Carriacou. Suelin Low Chew Tung (2024) has presented a solo show at the Grenada National Museum, highlighting an historical figure known for the handmade dolls she created. Asher Mains (2015, 2022) has participated in an international artist residency in Bolivia. Frederika Adam (2024) was curated for the 2025 Architecture Biennale in the Arsenal with her garden project. Most recently, Shervone Neckles (2019) has had her work collected by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Museum in Washington, DC. This is a first acquisition by a Grenadian artist, so it is a significant milestone.
With one more month to go, it is noteworthy that during its 7-month run, Grenada has participated in the Chelsea Flower Show, hosted a homecoming Diaspora week, put on Carnival, the Carriacou Regatta, and anticipates the first Garden and Flower Festival in November. It must be recognised that all this time the Grenada Pavilion has stood as a beacon of light in Venice, the heart of Italy, pointing to the unique, peaceful, creative people of our island home.
Grenada Pavilion, Biennale di Venezia
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