Venice Biennale 2013
28.08.2013
Venice, Venice, you are so beautiful.
Yes, I just got back from Venice and I am still excited about my visit. Now I am sitting at my desk still recovering from a post-holiday sugar coma.
I love Venice, what is not to like? The weather was great, the food was way too good, the coffees were not that expensive (yes I am not lying, I have managed to get few espresso for less than €2) and on top of that I met my lovely mum there for a family gateway.
We went to check the Biennale and few collateral events, the sites were not that busy so we had the opportunity to really enjoy the shows. What I really love about the Biennale is the Giardini, walking around surrounded by pines, discovering works of art from all over the world. I had the chance to see so much art in so little time, this is incredible.
Walking throughout the pavilions you can get a taste of different cultures, traditions and trends in the arts. There were many video installations as well as few interactive works. The best video and sculptural installation I have seen was Ryan Trecartin’s ‘Not Yet Titled’, this takes up a whole room of the Arsenale. There are four videos, all referencing reality tv, a sort of window on pop culture and youth, a very original take on contemporary culture.
I liked Massimiliano Gioni’s curatorial selection for the show in the Arsenale, however some of the rooms were filled with too many works, it made me feel overwhelmed and it was difficult to enjoy some of the works.
Here are my favourite pavilions, I selected them for different reasons, if you have visited them too then share your thoughts!
Jeremy Deller, British pavilion, english heritage and pride. Who does not like a cup of tea?
Vadim Zakharov, Russian Pavilion, curated by Udo Kittelmann (Director of the Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen Berlin). This is the first time that Russian Pavilion is curated by a citizen of another country. An attempt to secure attention? Well, it works. One of the best pavilions.
If you want to experience death while you are alive then you must visit the Korean Pavilion. Kimsooja transformed the venue into a place of transcendental experience, dealing with issues relating to the body, self and others, death and life.
Israel Pavilion, Gilad Ratman’s The Workshop is based on a fictional journey from Israel to Venice taken by a group of people. This epic trip starts in the caves of Israel, before emerging through the floor of the Israeli pavilion. Once inside the pavilion, the group turn the space into a workshop, sculpting themselves in clay they have transported from Israel.
Don’t miss the Venice Biennale.
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