A Creole garden inside a Venetian palace
This year's theme was a deep reflection on the country's history with socio-political, environmental and historical issues. For this year of Biennale Arte, Portugal presented Greenhouse, a collective of three women artists Mónica de Miranda, Sónia Vaz Borges and Vânia Gala who brought a transdisciplinary project that reflects on themes such as nature, politics, historical memory and colonialism.
The pavilion set up on the second floor of the magnificent Palazzo Franchetti overlooking the Grand Canal features a dense vegetation of exotic plants such as tobacco, pineapple, bananas and lemons in order to create the Creole garden.
Pavilion of Portugal at the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia
Soil and plants facing the Gothic polifora ©Maria Paola Gemma
This combination of lush vegetation (arrived directly from Sicily and which will be transported to Lisbon at the end of the exhibition) and the Gothic architecture of Franchetti palace have created a unique environment. The "Creole garden" is a powerful metaphor that recalls the idea of a garden that is not just a collection of plants, but a place that represents the mixing and adaptation of cultures. The term "Creole" is strongly linked to the history of colonization, diaspora and intercultural exchange, and the project reflects on the way in which cultures hybridize, transform and enrich each other.
The Creole garden of the Portuguese Pavilion is therefore not only a physical space, but also a concept that suggests a reflection on cultural identity, biodiversity and power relations between the colonial and post-colonial world.
The installation was conceived as a meeting place between nature, history and evolving identities, a garden that continually grows and changes, reflecting the complexity of the contemporary world.
Pavilion of Portugal at the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia
Greenhouse, by Mónica de Miranda, Sónia Vaz Borges and Vânia Gala, 2024 ©Maria Paola Gemma
The plants remained in the building for six months, growing in height, volume and in some cases enriching the spectacle of nature with the growth of pineapples. In mid-November during a visit together with Liliana, one of the person in charge inside the space, we also counted three small lemons. The pavilion layout was structured to create an immersive garden that invited the public to walk, explore and interact with the surrounding environment.
The artists used plants, soil and installations that recall the tradition of colonial gardens, but with a critical and reflective vision. Some plants were chosen for their connection to colonial history, others for their ability to adapt and thrive in new environments, symbolizing the idea of fusion and resistance.
In this "Creole garden" different artistic forms were also mixed, such as sculptures, sound and video, which further enriched the visitor's sensorial experience.
The uniqueness of the place that mix stunning architecture with a the greenness of the garden invited meditation and reflection on the complexity of cultural and natural dynamics.
Pavilion of Portugal at the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia
Soil and plants facing the Gothic polifora ©Maria Paola Gemma
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