Artist Lubaina Himid's exhibition at the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale brings a powerful reflection on the sense of belonging and alienation in British society.
Amidst a background of soothing sounds – sea waves, birds and nature sounds – visitors are confronted with large paintings where brightly colored characters, mostly figures of color, appear in everyday situations: tailors, chefs, architects. They are the people who build and maintain society, but their mutual glances reflect a strong sense of discomfort and rejection.
Through these images, Himid raises fundamental questions: is it possible to truly feel “at home” in a place where your roots are elsewhere? The characters seem uncertain, frozen in moments of reflection, as if wondering about their place in this reality.
The exhibition also includes a series of philosophical questions placed on the walls, which aim to deepen the discussion on identity and belonging. However, criticism suggests that this approach remains somewhat limited, linking the feeling of non-acceptance mainly to the experience of migration.
In fact, the idea of belonging is more complex, involving factors such as social class, gender, and personal identity. The feeling of not being part of a society does not only concern immigrants, but a much wider range of individuals.
Although not among the artist's most visually powerful works, the exhibition manages to convey an atmosphere of anxiety and inner tension. It suggests that, despite Britain's idyllic image as a "green and beautiful" place, for many people it never quite feels like home. /GazetaExpress/
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