For the Canadian Pavilion, Kapwani Kiwanga Considers the Hefty Historical Importance of the Tiny Venetian Seed Bead

At the core of Venice’s history is trade. The floating lagoon has, for centuries, served as a meeting place for different cultures, both in terms of the people who visited La Serenissima and the goods they brought with them. Another well-known history is that of the city’s renowned glass factory on Murano island. But what has been almost forgotten to time is how the production of one specific glass object, conterie or Venetian seed beads, has had a lasting impact on the cul