To receive Morning Links in your inbox every weekday, sign up for our Breakfast with ARTnews newsletter.
The Headlines
KOYO KOUOH LANDS VENICE BIENNALE TOP JOB. Koyo Kouoh, the 57-year-old Cameroonian Swiss museum director, has been appointed the curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale, making history as the first African woman to land the role. She’s known for her groundbreaking work at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. Kouoh described the Venice Biennale as “the center of gravity for art for over a century, where the world’s artistic pulse is felt.” Her curatorial vision is shaped by her unique upbringing between Cameroon and Switzerland, blending multiple cultural perspectives into her work. She has previously curated exhibitions including “Body Talk: Feminism, Sexuality and the Body and Still (the) Barbarians” and authored When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting. Her appointment was championed by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Venice Biennale, who praised her “broad horizon of vision.” Despite the nationalist trend seen in recent Italian appointments, Kouoh’s selection marks a striking shift, signaling the event’s commitment to embracing diverse global perspectives in shaping the future of contemporary art.
LOST YOUR MARBLES? The UK government has reiterated that the future of the Elgin Marbles remains a matter for the British Museum, following a high-profile meeting between Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Reports suggest that discussions are moving towards a potential deal to return the marbles to Greece, but the British government insists that no changes to the law governing their permanent removal are planned. A Downing Street spokesperson clarified that the British Museum’s trustees, not the government, hold the authority over the management and care of the sculptures, including decisions on any potential loans or returns. This comes amid ongoing talks about a cultural “Parthenon Partnership,” which could see the marbles temporarily loaned to Athens in exchange for exhibitions of iconic British artworks. The Elgin Marbles, removed from the Parthenon in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, have been displayed at the British Museum for over 200 years. Greece has long argued that they were taken illegally during a period of foreign occupation, while critics, including actor Stephen Fry, maintain that the marbles “belong in Athens,” suggesting a return could enhance Britain’s reputation. Although no formal discussions on the marbles took place during Tuesday’s meeting, the ongoing dialogue hints at a potential resolution. The Greek PM’s visit, his first to the UK since a diplomatic dispute with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, marks a renewed push for the sculptures’ return. Shadow culture minister Saqib Bhatti warned against changing the law, asserting the importance of protecting Britain’s cultural heritage.
The Digest
ARTnews previews five unmissable booths at Untitled art fair in Miami Beach, which is taking place alongside mega-fair Art Basel Miami Beach. Check them out. [ARTnews]
On Tuesday, the Simose Art Museum in western Japan won this year’s Prix Versailles award naming it the world’s most beautiful museum. [Japan Today]
On Tuesday, Jasleen Kaur won the 2024 Turner Prize for her work reflecting her childhood in Glasgow, including a Ford Escort Cabriolet Mk3 draped in a massive doily titled Sociomobile. [Guardian]
All five of Andy Holden’s public bronze sculptures titled Auguries (Last Calls), 2023, which was part of the Wakefield Sculpture Trail, has been stolen. [BBC]
The Kicker
THE NAKED TRUTH. When New York Times hack Amelia Nierenberg flew to Marseille recently for a story on social nudism, she never expected her mother to join in. An exhibition at the Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean (Mucem) – which ARTnews reported on – invited visitors to explore nudity as “a form of self-respect and connection with nature.” Intrigued by the idea, Nierenberg casually mentioned the show to her mother, who immediately said, “Sounds fun! Could I come?” This wasn’t Nierenberg’s first joint reporting trip with her mum, but it turned out to be the most unconventional. Both have struggled with body image issues in the past, so walking about in a state of nature in a French museum presented challenges. SPOILER ALERT: However, by the end of the experience, both were surprised by how little they thought about their bodies – and reflected on a new sense of comfort with nudity and the connections it fostered. [New York Times]
The post “UK PM Tells Greece That Return of Elgin Marbles is British Museum’s Decision, Koyo Kouoh to Curate 2026 Venice Biennale, and More: Morning Links for December 4, 2024” by George Nelson was published on 12/04/2024 by www.artnews.com