You still have time to visit the Venice Biennale, until november 26 th exactly. We were there one month ago and I had few big crushes I wanted to share with you. Let’s start with the Giardini and my top 5 pavillions :
1° Switzerland : the pavilion is a tribute to Giacometti who actually never represented his country in the Biennale. The installation/ movie made Birchler and Hubbard moved us so deeply ! It’s about the forgotten love of the sculptor called Flora Mayo, which is also an edifying destiny of a woman artist coming from USA at the beginning of the century, thanks to the support of her family, until the crisis of 1929 ruined her artistic hopes and life… Nothing remains from her creations except a photograph of a wonderful bust she made of Giaco…I’m still haunted by her story.
2° Corea : Glad to discover Cody Choi, an enfant terrible of contemporary art. Subversive, transgressive, and meaningful.
3° France : The day we visited the Giardini was really magical as Nigel Godrich the producer of Radio head came to the pavilion-studio for a string session recording and the artist Xavier Veilhan was there too. Creation in motion.
4° Austria : up to you to activate famous Erwin Wurm one minute sculpture. Hilarious !
5° Belgium : the somptuous dark and mysterious images by Dirk Braeckman mesmerized me. I admire greatly their pictorial quality.
The german pavilion is out of competition if I could say as the excellent artist Anne Imhof -who received the golden lion- choose to present an impressive live performance for the opening and ..nothing remains for it. Go and see it nevertheless.
In the Arsenale, my favorite works were :
1° Julian Charriere
2°Michelle Stuart
3°Ernesto Neto
4°Leonor Antunes
5°Kader Attia
6°Alicia Kwade
Don’t miss also these 2 pavilions in the Arsenale :
- China, especially with two artists whose artworks are displayed on the ceiling : Wangtianwen and Yaohuifen.
- and the Georgian one with Vajiko Chachkhiani . Everyone is talking about his outstanding installation : a house where a non stoppable inside rain will ruin everything…
Big crush also for the nigeran pavilion, located in Scoletta dei Battioro e dei Tiraoro, a building from early 18th century, that was once home to Venice’s gold thread and gold leaf guild. Moreover this is the first participation of this country for the Biennale. Peju Alatise ‘s installation, evoking a yoruba tale is a must see ! Formal perfection and moving background with an actual echo of african female condition.
The best exhibitions to see in Venice during this Biennale :
1° Palazzo Fortuny and Axel Vervoordt choice. A must attend rendez-vous , the true spirit of connoisseurs, but, alas , the last edition… so Enjoy !!
2° Dont miss, next to Santa Maria dei Miracoli the outstanding Palazzo Soranzo van Axel :
In this place, just refurbished , you can see a group show curated by Pouchkine museum. I loved especially 2 excellent artworks :
- a magnetic video by David Claerbout about a strange wood.
- an impressive sound installation by Yri Kalendarev that you can activate
3° Prada Foundation : a complex exhibiton – very german- with Thomas Demand, Alexander Kluge and Anna Viebrock, that turns to be a strange and disquieting experience for the visitor… but really worth doing !
I invite yo to go on my Insta and turn the clock back to mid- august to see my posts from Venice , including the Biennale @parisdeluxearty !
