Opening Ceremony of the Ethiopia Pavilion – Shapes of Silence

ETHIOPIA PAVILION

61st INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION - LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA

May 9 – November 22, 2026

 

TEGENE KUNBI - SHAPES OF SILENCE

Commissioner: Ambassador Demitu Hambisa Bonsa

Curator: Prof. Abebaw Ayalew

Assistant Curator: Yohannes Mulat Mekonnen

Institutional Partner: Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism

Supporter: Primo Marella Gallery

 

 

OPENING CEREMONY

Thursday 7 May 2026, 11:30 AM

Palazzo Bollani 

Castello 3647, Venezia

 

 

Speakers

H.E. Selamawit Kassa,Minister of Tourism, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

H.E. Demitu Hambisa Bonsa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Italy and Representative to FAO, IFAD and WFP, Commissioner Ethiopia Pavilion

Prof. Abebaw Ayalew, Curator Ethiopia Pavilion

Tegene Kunbi, Artist Ethiopia Pavilion

 

Programme

11:00 AM | Welcome and Ethiopian coffee ceremony

11:30 AM | Presentation and official opening

12:00 PM | Ethiopian light lunch

 

 

Primo Marella Gallery is pleased to announce the official opening of the Ethiopian Pavilion – Shapes of Silence, a project by Tegene Kunbi and curated by Abebaw Ayalew. The pavilion will be inaugurated with a press conference scheduled for May 7, 2026 at Palazzo Bollani (Castello 3647), Venice, starting at 11:30 am.

 

Presented within the framework of the Venice Biennale, the Ethiopian Pavilion marks a significant moment of visibility and recognition for the contemporary Ethiopian art scene. Centered on Kunbi’s practice, Shapes of Silence unfolds as a reflection on form, absence, and the expressive potential of silence as both a visual and conceptual language.

 

The press conference will offer an opportunity to introduce the curatorial vision, delve into the conceptual framework of the project, and discuss the research trajectories informing the pavilion. In this context, the Ethiopian Pavilion positions itself not only as an exhibition space, but as a platform for dialogue and critical exchange, engaging with broader questions surrounding representation, cultural identity, and contemporary artistic practices.

 

If you wish to attend the press conference, please register here to secure your participation.