Big Chief Demond Melancon, Amistad Takeover, 2026. Photos by Jamal Denzel Barnes. Courtesy of the Artist.
First Impressions of a Venice Biennale Torn Apart by the Present
For Artnet, critic Ben Davis examines how In Minor Keys unfolds in the aftermath of Koyo Kouoh’s passing, describing the 2026 Venice Biennale as shaped by grief, spirituality, and political unrest. The article reflects on the exhibition’s quieter emotional register while highlighting artists whose works confront histories of violence, displacement, healing, and resistance.
Davis identifies Big Chief Demond Melancon’s Amistad Takeover as one of the strongest works in the Central Pavilion, emphasizing its monumental craftsmanship and historical references to the Amistad revolt. The review also discusses presentations by Nick Cave, Mohammed Joha, and Seyni Awa Camara, situating Melancon’s work within a broader dialogue around ritual, memory, Black diasporic histories, and cultural resilience.
