La Biennale di Venezia – 58th International Art Exhibition
Gaggiandre-Photo by Andrea Avezzu - Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
Open to the public from Saturday May 11th to Sunday November 24th 2019, at the Giardini and the Arsenale, the 58th International Art Exhibition, titled May You Live In Interesting Times, will be curated by Ralph Rugoff and organized by La Biennale di Veneziachaired by Paolo Baratta. The pre-opening will take place on May 8th, 9th and 10th, the awards ceremony and inauguration will be held on Saturday May 11th 2019.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
«The title of this Exhibition could be interpreted as a sort of curse – stated President Paolo Baratta- where the expression „interesting times“ evokes the idea of challenging or even „menacing”times, but it could also simply be an invitation to always see and consider the course of human events in their complexity, an invitation, thus, that appears to be particularly important in times when, too often, oversimplification seems to prevail, generated by conformism or fear. And I believe that an exhibition of art is worth our attention, first and foremost, if it intends to present us with art and artists as a decisive challenge to all oversimplifying attitudes.»
NATIONAL PARTICIPATIONS
The Exhibition will also include 90 National Participations in the historic Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the historic city centre of Venice. Four countries will be participating for the first time at the Biennale Arte: Ghana, Madagascar, Malaysia and Pakistan. The Dominican Republic for the first time at the Biennale Arte with its own national pavilion.
The Italian Pavilion at the Tese delle Vergini in the Arsenale, sponsored and promoted by theMinistero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Direzione Generale Arte e Architettura Contemporanee e Periferie Urbane, will be curated this year by Milovan Farronato.
COLLATERAL EVENTS
21 Collateral Events which are admitted by the curator and promoted by non – profit national and international bodies and institutions, take place in several locations; they offer a wide range of contributions and participations that enrich the diversity of voices that characterizes the exhibition of Venice.
SPECIAL PROJECTS realized by La Biennale di Venezia- Forte Marghera Special Project, Mestre
Ludovica Carbotta, one of the artists taking part in the International Exhibition, has been invited by Ralph Rugoff to expressly make a work in Forte Marghera, inside the building called the Austrian Polveriera.
– Applied Arts Pavilion Special Project, Arsenale, Sale d’Armi
Marysia Lewandowska is the artist set to exhibit in the Pavilion of Applied Arts located inthe Arsenale, Sale d’Armi. The project, renewed for the fourth consecutive year, is the result of the collaboration between La Biennale and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
BIENNALE SESSIONS, the project for Universities
For the tenth consecutive year La Biennale dedicate the Biennale Sessions project to to institutions that develop research and training in architecture, the arts and related fields, and to Universities and Fine Arts Academies. The goal is to offer favourable conditions for students and teachers to organize three-day group visits for fifty people or more, offering the possibility to organize seminars free of charge at the Exhibition’s venues, and assistance in organizing their journey and stay (see document attached herein).
EDUCATIONAL
For the past decade, La Biennale di Venezia has been devoting increased attention to learning activities, and has developed a growing commitment to so-called “Educational” initiatives addressed to the audience of its Exhibitions’, to universities, young people, and children, from schools at all levels.
In the past two years, La Biennale’s great 57th International Art Exhibition and 16th International Architecture Exhibition had 114,814 participants in Educational activities in total, amongst whom68,794 were youngsters.
A broad Educational programme has been scheduled for 2019 as well, addressed to individuals and groups of students, children, adults, families, professionals, companies, and universities. All the initiatives aim at actively involving the participants, and are led by professional operators, carefully trained by La Biennale di Venezia. They are divided into two categories: Guided Toursand Workshop Activities (see document attached herein).
PUBLICATIONS
The official catalogue, titled May You Live In Interesting Times, consists of two volumes. Volume I, curated by Ralph Rugoff, is dedicated to the International Exhibition. Volume II is focused on the National Participations and the Collateral Events. The Exhibition Guide is conceived to accompany the visitor through the Exhibition. The graphic identity of the Biennale Arte 2019 and the layout of the books are designed by Melanie Mues, Mues Design London. The three books are edited and published by La Biennale di Venezia (see Catalogue and Exhibition Guide attached herein).
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
The 58th International Art Exhibition was made possible by the support of Swatch, Partner of the event.
Main Sponsor of the 58th Exhibition is illycaffè.
Sponsors:JTI (Japan Tobacco International),Artemide,Vela-Venezia UnicaandSeguso Vetri d’Arte.
Our thanks go to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
Official website of the Biennale Arte 2019: www.labiennale.org
Official hashtag: #BiennaleArte2019 #MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes
La Biennale di Venezia – 58th International Art Exhibition
May You Live In Interesting Times
Venice (Giardini and Arsenale),
May 11th – November 24th 2019
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