Martha Jungwirth 'Herz der Finsternis' Venice Biennale 2024: our pick of collateral shows

Alongside the main event, there's a plethora of exhibitions vying for visitors' attention. We've selected some of our favourites, ranging from Shahzia Sikander fairytale gothic palace to Andrzej Wróblewski's poignant depictions of war.

Martha Jungwirth, Herz der Finsternis (until 29 September)

Palazzo Cini Gallery, Campo San Vio 864

The Austrian artist Marth Jungwirth's show at the Palazzo Cini Gallery manages to inject some colour into the bleak history of colonial rule and its enduring legacy. Taking its title from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the show features new paintings completed mere months before the opening of this show. Painted in vivid hues, in her signature abstract style, they reflect the tones of the Central African rainforest described so memorably in the famous book. The 84-year-old artist's fame has grown exponentially since she joined Thaddaeus Ropac in 2021 (Jungwirth will have a solo show at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in June), and the world is all the richer for it.