Friends Everywhere at the Venice Biennale

Sara Downham-Lotto 2024

Exploring the value of visual art in building relationships through what we share.

Friends Everywhere, was a continuation of Sara’s ongoing practice-based research for Arts Lab exploring the value of visual art in building peaceful communities. The project took place during her British Council fellowship combining the roles of researcher with British Pavillion exhibition ambassador at the Venice Biennale.

Responding to the Venice Art Biennale 2024 theme Foreigners Everywhere, Friend’s Everywhere explored the theme of what is important in people’s lives, and the extent to which art might play a role in bringing us together through shared concerns over the big questions in life.

The workshops took place on the outdoor exit platform of John Akomfrah’s exhibition Listening All Night to the Rain which received 4-7 thousand visitors daily. This provided the perfect captive audience of art lovers eager to get stuck in to participatory reflection and making. Preaching to the converted somewhat, the outcomes were nevertheless affirming. The world is an interesting mix of hearts full of love and wonder, and hearts contracted by hate and fear. As an observer remarked, ‘it appears that what most people find important are the very things that are lacking in the world at the moment.’

‘Saracreated an unexpected platform for collective thinking and art making in an environment, ordinarily passively experienced by visitors, that was highly stimulating. Her ability to provide an art format that was at the same time inviting and accessible but also deep and aesthetically captivating was a joy to see in action. So many people from different backgrounds participated, clearly enthusiastic to share in a creative way what mattered to them and learning from each other.’

Francesco D’Alessio, Steward Manager, M+B Studio, Venice, Italy

‘Sara facilitated valuable moments of reflection and sharing for the visitors to the British Pavilion. They also proved to be extremely useful for us, the British Pavilion team, as it is rare to receive genuine feedback and observations from the audience. Sara managed each interaction with exceptional care and grace, standing out for her ability to communicate in multiple languages. Her activities engaged a diverse audience, including people of various ages and backgrounds.’

Anna Purna Nativo, Steward Manager

‘Sara’s workshops provided a wonderful opportunity for visitors to reflect on the exhibition and on the role of arts and its social impact in a collective creation. In a simple and generous way, visitors were engaged in conversations, written responses, and movements around the shared workspace. I’m sure this has been a memorable experience for all involved.’

Francesca Vason, British Pavilion curator and project manager, M+B Studio

The Friends Everywhere project consisted of 3 workshops spread over 3 weeks, written responses to which are below:

Does art matter to you? If so, why?
What matters to you?
Pattern me crazy! Making and Reflecting: takeaways from Listening all Night to the Rain.

DOES ART MATTER TO YOU? IF SO, WHY? – Workshop #1 – Written Responses

It makes you feel alive.

It unites everyone through emotion.

Art is freedom and revolution!

It moves us away from the centre.

Thanks to art, I am a pilgrim of the world.

Art transmits and helps us to communicate.

It is expression.

It helps you to make the right choices.

It connects us to other worlds – internal and external.

It is the expression through which we are identified.

It helps create a peaceful world. It’s part of humanity.

It keeps us dreaming.

It is a calmer alternative to all the technology.

It alleviates, lightens and frees the spirit.

It is life.

It has the capacity to stop time, to travel back.

Centrifugal space.

It reveals parallel worlds.

It keeps us in touch with reality, with the truth.

It is understanding.

The answer is in you.

It fosters creativity.

It can be colourful and joyous.

Art is love, art is life.

It helps us to see differently.

Stop the war!

Step by step.

It helps us FEEL.

We are all better off with art!

Peace and art go together.

Art doesn’t have rules. You just express yourself.

It opens you to new ideas.

Creativity is every person’s lifeblood, whether we realise it or not. Our corporate society robs us of our identity. It is therefore the job of each one of us to resist through ART.

Free Palestine.

I lost my home.

It matters more than ever. Art does matter.

It is a form of storytelling.

It is peace.

Life would be a little bit sad without it, no?

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? – Workshop #2 – Written Responses

On Circles: Community Growth Solidarity Love Sun Acceptance Freedom Free Palestine To stay childlike Tranquility Ukraine Friends Authenticity Architecture Freedom Children are our Future Peace Family and Books Respect Hope Life Mama To Feel To Stop the War My Family Friendship UWC Adriatic Free Belorus Life She Matters Russia will be Free Freedom A Free Palestine Empathy Live in the Moment Fewer Assholes Self-determination Everywhere, Everyone My Sister Kindness Serenity Smiling Freedom Love Peace and Love Family Free Artsakh (a part of Armenia that was occupied in 2023) Intimacy Love Honesty Authentic Love Virtue Basari (Iran) Understanding Creativity, Imagination and Spirituality Soul Lightness Justice Family, Love, Goals and Male Courage Patience; we’re all in this together Living without Borders Friendship Affection To Dream Parents Dignity

On Squares: Resistance My Grandchildren Health Independence Friendship Love, Friendship, Joy, Family, Peace Serenity Kindness Everything Solitude Warm-heartedness Awareness Kindness Responsibility for the World we Live in Dignity for All Love Eyes Curiosity Kindness Love Nature, Freedom, Truth and Love Peace Live in the Moment Love Pizza Health Mama Empathy Care Stillness Homeland Freedom Home Food Safety Connection Everything Family Free Afghan Girls Home Freedom Home Freedom Stop the Bullshit Compassion, Kindness, My Wife Awareness! Balance Passion Beauty Expression Soul Clean Air Freedom for All Love Keep Faith Peace, Love, Books and Art Family Peace Health Love Life Peace Let her Learn Peace and Love Family Peace Listening Feeling My Daughter Liberation of Ukraine Altruism Hope for the Future Peace Breath Respect Truth and Honesty Connection Mozzarella Love, Family and God Stop the War Love Never Stop Dreaming Love Passion Happiness Mama, Papa and Sister Freedom Marianne Health Connection Freedom Awareness Love and Good Health Freedom and Emancipation Wild Flowers.