Keiji Haino receives Golden Lion at Venice Biennale Musica

The 70th edition of the Venice Biennale Musica has awarded its most prestigious honors at the Ca’ Giustinian headquarters. Japanese artist Keiji Haino was awarded the Leone d’Oro (Golden Lion) for his career, a recognition of his radical approach to sound production. Described by the Biennale as a ‘poet of noise,’ Haino is celebrated for a body of work that spans noise, radical improvisation, and deconstructed psychedelic rock, often operating outside traditional academic classifications.

The ceremony, held under the artistic direction of Caterina Barbieri, centered on the theme ‘A Child of Sound,’ emphasizing a primordial relationship with listening. Alongside the career achievement award, the festival also presented the Leone d’Argento (Silver Lion). The event featured contributions from artists such as Sarah Davachi, who discussed her relationship with electronic music and the organ, and included an installation by Vancouver-based artist Wyldie Bracewell.