Liverpool Biennial

Cerveau II2025Presented for the 13th Liverpool Biennial – BEDROCK , at Tate Liverpool and RIBA North.

Set within the city’s historic waterfront, this exhibition brought together a diverse cohort of international artists to explore Liverpool’s physical and metaphorical foundations. Curated by Marie-Anne McQuay, the biennial survey provided a platform for Hadassa Ngamba’s UK debut, situating Cerveau II within one of the country’s most significant cultural institutions.

The installation offered a spatial meditation on the ties binding the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UK’s industrial heritage—underscoring the city's dual role as a site of colonial legacy and a landscape for contemporary healing.

Photography by Stuart Whipps

Installation view of Cerveau II at Tate Liverpool+
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This work from the artist’s ‘Cerveau’ series (2018-2023), which translates to ‘brain’, is exhibited here for the first time in the UK.
Ngamba’s work initially focused on maps, using them to expose signs of exploitation. Her work showcased for this purpose was highlighted in a New York Times article.
Installation view of Cerveau II at Tate Liverpool+
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Ahead of participating in Liverpool Biennial 2025, the artist undertook research with the city’s Congolese community, alongside Tate Liverpool and the International Slavery Museum.