...this is my take on La Biennale '09 based on what I've seen so far. Sometimes - like now, for instance? - the world needs more small/smart/serene than big/brash/boisterous. The art that has made the deepest impression on me so far is, for the most part, quiet.
There are definitely exceptions - like the installation by Pascale Marthine Tayou of Cameroon that takes up a huge space in the Arsenale. His architecture of a small African village - called Human Being - includes representations of everyday life and new connections between radically different cultures and places. It is a "made world." It is anything but quiet. It is, however, thrilling.
Another installation by an African artist, Moshekwa Langa from South Africa, is best described as cartographic - also about connections...and disconnections. And it's very quiet.
There are several Italian pavilions - the one at the Arsenale, contains work by many contemporary Italian artists. The show is called "collaudi." There is a simple animated video iand one of the "stills" from it is my favorite piece so far. The artist is Valerio Berruti of Verduno. Fonso, for you I've posted one of several works on display in this pavilion by Roberto Floreani of Vicenza - he reminds me of you.
Madelon Vriesendorp of The Netherlands invites viewers to participate in her installation - Mind Game - by rearranging her "world."
Russia - ah, Mother Russia. Again, the Russian Pavilion at the Giardini is fantastic. Five artists have interpreted the theme Victory over the Future - diverse, thought-provoking, like I said, fantastic.
Venezia - which has it's own pavilion at Giardini is all glass. Dale Chihuly's familiar forms outside, Venetian/Murano glass of every description and design inside. Does it get any quieter than glass?
Well, maybe. At the Czech Pavilion. Which brings the outside, literally, in. It is the calmest place I've been so far.
Photos of all I've described are posted below (in reverse order - duh! - sorry, but no time to re-arrange now).
More later...ciao, ciao, ciao
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Lovin' these photos. Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteYou've made me want to see Biennale installations and you know me and "modern" art...I could use a little peace. Packing madly and can't wait to get there. Hope I sleep on the plane because I plan to stay awake every possible minute while I'm there! Ciao bella! Wanda
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