Biennale Highlights
Titled “May You Live in Interesting Times”, it’s apparent that this years Biennale is intended not only for us to reflect on our past, but take stock of the current times we now reside.
Neither Nor: The Challenge to the Labyrinth by Alessandro Michele and Milovan Farronato
Italian Pavilion, Arsenale. Photograhpy by Dezeen
The title is a phrase of English invention that has long been mistakenly cited as an ancient Chinese curse that invokes periods of uncertainty, crisis and turmoil. The 58th International Art Exhibition takes place from May through to November 2019 and is curated by Ralph Rugoff, the current director of the Hayward Gallery in London.
A mere week and a half ago I had the opportunity to visit the overwhelming large scale Biennale in Venice. With two large pavilions and other installations scattered throughout the city, you are more than likely to hit your mental threshold before you’re able to see it all.
However, I guarantee, no matter your walk of life you will find something tailored to your disposition that will get you thinking.
Stan Douglas, installation view, 58th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, May You Live In Interesting Times, curated by Ralph Rugoff. Photo by Jack Hems. Source: David Zwirner.
I walked through with my closest friends from Romania, Ukraine, and Italy. We discussed the works and how we initially perceived them - as well as how our perception had changed once reading about the work of art and the message the artist was trying to convey. The most interesting was the digital mediums used. A personal favourite was the inclusion of a VR installation which was meant to convey the extremities of climate change, and encourage the viewer to have an emotional experience as to what our future holds.