TRENDS

THE 59TH VENICE ART BIENNALE

The 59th Venice Art Biennale, curated for the first time by an Italian female curator, Cecilia Alemani focused on two main themes: Retribution and Recognition.

Venice, January 2023

RETRIBUTION

“Retribution” in terms of giving back to the earth and its people was expressed through out the Biennale in diverse ways. Two pavilions particularly stood out in terms of sustainable practice. Within Giardini, where the main pavilions are hosted, Morrocan-French artist, Latifa Echakhch, represented Switzerland with a pavilion made entirely of recycled materials from previous biennales (courtesy of up-cycling company Rebiennale). At the end of the Biennale, the pavilion will be dismantled and recycled again. The Lithuanian pavilion represented by artist Robertas Narxus was envisioned as a social entreprise project which will continue to exist and evolve beyond the Biennale for a minimum of five years, as Narxus wanted to develop social ties and have a positive impact on this non-touristic neighbourhood by bringing art visitors who would interact with the art project and also with the locals.

RECOGNITION

“Recognition” was expressed in terms of acknowledging wrong doing from the past and also giving space and exposure to overlooked issues and people in our current society. For example, Simone Leigh, the Afro-American artist, who represented the USA with sculptures and installations that referred to the condition of black females and colonialism, was awarded The Golden Lion for best contribution to the Biennale's international exhibition. Adina Pintilie, represented Romania with a multi channel installation that provided a conversation about who represents the nation and who is excluded, about collective shame and responsibility. And the winner of the Gold Lion, for the best pavilion, Sonia Boyce, represented the U.K with another multi-channel installation focusing on five black female musicians.

第59回ヴェネツィア・ビエンナーレ

初めてイタリアの女性キュレーター、チェチーリア・アレマーニがキュレーションを手がけた、第59回ヴェネツィア・ビエンナーレ。その2つの主題は「報い」と「認識」。ベニス、2023年1月

報い

地球と人々への恩返しという意味での「報い」は、様々な形で表現されている。持続可能性の実践という点では、特に2つのパビリオンが際立っていた。メイン・パビリオンのあるジャルディーニでは、スイス代表でモロッコ系フランス人アーティストのラティファ・エチャフが、過去のビエンナーレで使用されたリサイクル素材のみで作られたパビリオンを出展（アップサイクル企業Rebiennale提供）。ビエンナーレ終了後、パビリオンは解体され、再びリサイクルされる。ロベルタス・ナルクススが代表を務めるリトアニアのパビリオンは、ビエンナーレ後も最低5年間は存在し進化し続ける社会的プロジェクトとして構築された。アートプロジェクトや地元の人々と交流するアートビジターたちを呼び込むことで、社会的な結びつきを発展させ、観光地でないこの地域にポジティブな影響を与えたいと考えている。

認識

この「認識」は、過去の悪行を認めるという意味と、今の社会で見過ごされている問題や人々に目を向ける、という意味だ。米国代表の黒人アーティスト、シモーヌ・リーは、黒人女性の現状と植民地主義を表現した彫刻とインスタレーションで、ビエンナーレ国際展に最も貢献した作品に贈られる金獅子賞を受賞。ルーマニア代表のアディナ・ピンティリエは、誰が国を代表し、誰が排除されるのか、集団の恥と責任について問いかけた。英国代表のソニア・ボイスは、5人の黒人女性ミュージシャンをテーマとしたマルチチャンネル・インスタレーションで、最優秀パビリオンに贈られる金獅子賞を受賞した。

These four women artists are representative of Alemani’s desire to recognise the work of past and contemporary women artists who are not typically given as much exposure as their male counterparts. Indeed, the title for the main international exhibition, The Milk of Dreams, was taken from a children’s book written by surrealist painter, Leonora Carrington. This Biennale celebrates diversity by displaying the work of 213 artists from 58 countries.

In total there are 80 participating countries present at the Venice Biennale, which includes 28 official pavilions located in the Giardini and Arsenale locations, whilst the rest are spread out across Venice.

The Biennale is open until 27 November 2022.