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John Akomfrah
Listening All Night To The Rain
Commissioned by the British Council
British Pavilion 
Giardini

Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork

Bodies of water are a central motif throughout Listening All Night To The Rain and form the connective tissue between the visual and sonic narratives. Referencing the work of French immunologist Jacques Benveniste, Akomfrah considers water a reservoir for memory: a site where narratives from the past, present and future are held. In theatrically staged tableaux and archival footage, water moves in waves to represent fluctuations in time and the movement of people from one place to another, mirroring the experience of migrants across vast expanses of water. Water is also used to evoke the experience of diasporic communities directly impacted by climate catastrophes and rising sea levels. Images from Bangladesh’s devastating flooding from the 1980s onwards permeate the work, depicting how the country is on the frontline of a climate emergency generated by pollution and the extraction of natural resources; a legacy of colonial powers. Illustrating the connection between military conflicts and ecological devastation, Listening All Night To The Rain reveals the inalterable impact on the natural environment.

To further highlight the enduring legacies of colonialism, the exhibition captures pivotal moments in the history of independence movements and rebellions that swept across Africa and Asia from the 1940s-70s. Archival imagery delves into the Mau Mau uprisings in Kenya (1952-1960) and the brutalities of the British counter-insurgency campaign. In the Congo, Akomfrah portrays the struggle for independence from Belgian colonialism and in Nigeria, archival material reveals the 1960s Civil War and the tragic consequences of colonial land amalgamation. Meanwhile, Akomfrah captures the devastation of the Indian Partition in 1947, shedding light on emblematic figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, and the implementation of his five-year plan to recover India from the deprivation caused by the British occupation.

Listening All Night To The Rain positions various theories of acoustemology: the study of how the sonic experience mirrors and shapes our cultural realities. Akomfrah draws on an acute acoustic sensitivity influenced by a variety of formative experiences, from protests to club culture in 1970s-80s London. Each of Akomfrah’s ‘cantos’ is accompanied by a specific soundtrack, which layers archival material with field recordings, speeches and popular and devotional music. Extending the sense of hybridity in the filmic collages, Akomfrah’s use of sound encourages us to consider the breadth of cultural identity in Britain more broadly.

For the first time, the British Council will work with partners on an expanded public programme of events and artistic responses to bring the themes of the British Pavilion to global audiences. This cross-disciplinary programme recognises Akomfrah’s impact and influence on younger generations of artists and filmmakers to platform new voices and narratives. Throughout the run of the La Biennale di Venezia, it will connect audiences in the UK and beyond with stimulating and diverse international practice, encouraging a global dialogue around the most pressing issues of our time.

Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
Venice 2024 | John Akomfrah British Pavilion artwork
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