The title of the 12th Liverpool Biennial is uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things. uMoya is a word from the Zulu language spoken in some parts of South Africa, meaning spirit, breath, climate and wind. The organizers of the Biennale thus clearly establish the dominant theme of the art festival: the colonial past of Britain, in which Liverpool was of enormous importance as a major port city. South Africa has only been independent from Great Britain since 1961. To this day, English is one of the official languages and the influences of British culture can be felt in the country. From June 10 to September 17, visitors will experience the artistic treatment of the British past in numerous artworks, performances, screenings and a wide-ranging supporting program. Admission to the festival is free.
Artists on display include Francis Offman, Gala Porras-Kim, Guadalupe Maravilla, Lubaina Himid, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, Shannon Alonzo and Fátima Rodrigo Gonzales. The latter shows her large-scale textile works for the first time outside Brazil.
