Artist Gabrielle Goliath brings cancelled Venice Biennale work to London
The private foundation Ibraaz is showing ‘Elegy’, which was barred by the South African government because it commemorated the Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada
The Venice Biennale closing celebration will feature an aria from Tammy Nguyen's first opera, titled Timaeus and The Teacher: Foreword. Nguyen's opera explores themes of nationhood and journeys for freedom, drawing from her research in history, philosophy, ecology, mathematics, and geopolitics. Commissioned by Wesleyan University, the opera combines Nguyen's artwork with music by Neely Bruce and choreography by Jamal Jackson.
Nguyen's artistic interests include the "flags of convenience," which involve registering ships under the flag of another nation to exploit favorable laws and taxes. The opera's libretto, based on her father's experiences, tells the story of a Vietnamese man who aids Chinese gold traders and seeks freedom by boat, facing contradictions in global maritime trade.
The piece is set to a circular tapestry inspired by Plato's Timaeus, with dancers interacting with the tapestry to reflect the central tension between nation-state borders and natural forces. The aria will be presented during the Biennale's closing programme on November 13-14, providing a preview of Nguyen's completed work, which requires further development and fundraising.
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