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wurus

Venice Biennale 2026

Senegal Pavilion — 61st International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

/ Caroline Gueye

Wurus
Curated by Massamba Mbaye

/Venue

Palazzo Navagero
Riva degli Schiavoni 4147
Venice, Italy

/ Dates

9 May — 22 November 2026

The curatorial concept

 
‘WURUS’
What the Earth offers us…
 
Gold comes to us from the Earth, or rather from the sky. It comes mainly from neutron stars and meteorite impacts.
Gold has survived centuries, civilizations and continents, and remains universal. It is also a high-tech material.
 
In Senegal, gold mining was at its peak in the 14th century during the Mali Empire. The ruler Kanka Musa (1307 or 1312 – circa 1335?) symbolizes the golden age of this empire. He is known to this day as the richest man on the planet thanks to gold.
 
This yellow metal is at the heart of our aesthetic considerations because only few materials have so much shaped the destiny of humanity, even if its exploitation often comes at the expense of the environment and human rights.
 
Gold appeals to us as the ultimate symbol of wealth and therefore power.
It also appeals to us as an extension of everything else that is worth its weight in gold: oil, rare earths…
 
The hidden reasons behind imperialism. The happiness and depression of the world.
Kanka Musa was a visionary.
 
Thanks to this gold, he brought in scholars and scientists and built universities and libraries to raise the level of human culture and knowledge.
 
We hope that the memory of this prosperous past can still inspire us today.
What the Earth offers us… and what we must do with it…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Massamba MBAYE,

Curator

Informations

Credits ​​​

​Senegal Pavilion

61st International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Crafts and Tourism of Senegal

Commissioner: Oumar Sall
Curator: Massamba Mbaye

Artist: Caroline Gueye

Preview (press and professionals): 6-8 May 2026

Public opening: 9 May — 22 November 2026

Venue: Palazzo Navagero Riva degli Schiavoni 4147 Venice, Italy

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Press & Contacts

Press contact
Véronique Hoesle
Email: veronique@hoesle.net
Tel / WhatsApp: +33 6 31 32 26 29

Artist studio : studio@carolinegueye.com

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