The International Celebration of Blasphemy and the Sacred CATPC / 1st Edition Shop Nu

The Dutch entry for the 60th edition of La Biennale di Venezia is provided by artist collective Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC) together with artist Renzo Martens and curator Hicham Khalidi. The exhibition at the Dutch Pavilion in the Giardini is twinned with a presentation at the White Cube in Lusanga (DRC) and is part of CATPC’s ongoing commitment to reclaim land to reintroduce biodiversity, regenerate the soil and provide sustenance for the community in Congo. This publication (in both English and French) includes a main text written by curator Hicham Khalidi and a series of letters written by Ced’art Tamasala on behalf of CATPC. Khalidi wrote his text in close collaboration with writer Amanda Sarroff, CATPC and Renzo Martens and draws on interviews with renowned authors and curators such as Ariella Aïsha Azoulay, Ruba Katrib and Ndubuisi C. Ezeluomba. The publication also includes an introduction by Mondriaan Fund director Eelco van der Lingen and contains extensive visual documentation of both the sculptures and video works in the Dutch pavilion in Venice as well as the sculptures in Lusanga.