Yoruba Cosmology and Memory Explored in Jelili Atiku's Venice Biennale Installation
Original framing: “Jelili Atiku to Present “Eyes No Dey Forget Wetin Heart See” in “1922 Revisited” at Venice Biennale 2026” — bing news
The original framing omits the deep historical and spiritual roots of Yoruba cosmology in Atiku's work. It also neglects the role of indigenous knowledge systems in shaping contemporary African art. The piece’s engagement with memory and public space is underemphasized, as is the role of the Third Space Art Foundation in fostering cross-cultural dialogue.
High structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
The narrative is produced by Western media outlets and art institutions, often framing African artists through a postcolonial lens. This framing serves the power structures of global art markets and curatorial gatekeeping, obscuring the agency of African artists in defining their own cultural narratives. Atiku’s work, however, repositions African cosmology as a legitimate epistemological framework.
Atiku’s performance is deeply spiritual, using art as a medium for ancestral remembrance and communal healing. This aligns with artistic traditions in many Indigenous and non-Western cultures where art is a conduit for the divine and the collective.
Jelili Atiku’s work at the Venice Biennale 2026 is a powerful example of how African artists are reclaiming their epistemological sovereignty through art.