We congratulate Raphaël Barontini on his participation in the 2026 Toronto Biennial of Art, on view from September 26 to December 20, where he will present a newly commissioned body of work co-commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art and the Royal Ontario Museum, with the generous support of Hatch and the Institut français du Canada. Curated by Allison Glenn, the fourth edition, titled Things Fall Apart, brings together artists whose practices engage with rupture as a generative force, exploring the histories, geographies, and systems that shape contemporary life while proposing new ways of understanding the present.
As part of the opening events on September 26 at 1:30 PM, Barontini will present Konvwa libèté, a celebratory, carnival-style street parade on the University of Toronto campus, co-presented with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Hart House, and the Art Museum. Blending percussion, indigo costumes, banners, and flags, the parade honors historical figures of anti-enslavement resistance while celebrating contemporary Caribbean traditions of emancipation.
At the Royal Ontario Museum, Barontini will also present Unbound, a powerful new installation featuring five large, hand-dyed and screen-printed panels soaring above Futalognkosaurus in the Gloria Chen Court. Drawing on images from ROM’s collections alongside archival and cultural references, the work brings together allegorical and political narratives spanning Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Inspired by the concept of Abya Yala, Unbound explores migration, resilience, cultural exchange, and histories of resistance, foregrounding figures connected by water and highlighting stories that have historically been underrepresented. Through its contemporary reimagining of history, the installation invites reflection on the legacy of historical omissions while boldly challenging the status quo of the encyclopedic museum.
