Venice Biennale: description, features, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

For almost 120 years, the Venice Biennale has been honoring artists and the arts. Opening its doors to all connoisseurs of beauty, the Biennale is the culmination of creativity. The event is always widely covered in the press. The curators and the organizing committee, which always consist of specialists from different countries, try to maintain the independent status of the exhibition.

Only hostilities prevented this world forum. Everyone can visit the exhibition, get acquainted with modern art trends. The authorities of Venice in every way encourage tourists to attend the event, creating the most interesting and comfortable conditions for them. Thus, the Venice Biennale has become one of the main attractions of Venice.

What is a "biennale"?

This is an international art exhibition where artists from all over the world are invited. Each country has its own pavilion. By the way, the construction of these pavilions in the 20th century took place under the guidance of the world's best architects. An international jury recognizes selected artists and national pavilions with a special award, the Golden Lion or the Silver Lion.

The word "biennale"comes from the Latin bis - twice and annuus - year, respectively, the exhibition takes place every two years, every odd year. In addition to the Venetian, there are others, but they are not so well known. It is this forum that is a symbol of art without any admixture of politics. Although exhibitions and museums are not rare in our century, the Venice Biennale is the focus of geniuses from all over the world.

Exhibiting your masterpiece here is a great honor for all artists. Each biennale has its own theme and motto, which must be adhered to by all exhibitors. In addition, it is honorable and responsible to be the curator of the forum. The exhibition is open for several months, which are divided into three stages. First, previews, during which the jury members get acquainted with the exhibitions, then the official opening, at which prizes are awarded. During the third stage, access to the expositions is given to the general public.

First Venice Biennale

The first exhibition in Venice was held in 1885, on the initiative of Consul Riccardo Selvatico. At that time there were only 16 participating countries at the forum. It was only after the Second World War that the Venice Biennale acquired global significance. The first was not a social or political action, it was pure art, a platform for creative people to open up.

Venice Biennale 2017

From May 13 to November 26, the 57th Biennale was held, under the motto "Viva arta viva" (Long live living art), which, according tothe idea of the curator, was supposed to be focused on the artist and his world.

This Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art has become something special for the postmodern. More than 100 emerging artists were invited to the forum. A fresh look at art significantly updated the usual picture of the exhibition. Art here has taken on such forms as an installation made of fabric that you need to interact with. The prize for the "Best National Pavilion" went to the Germans who put on a five-hour performance.

The French pavilion presented a musical installation featuring 60 performers. As usual, in addition to the national ones, thematic pavilions dedicated to the Earth, Flowers, Time and many other topics worked at the forum.

This year the Russian pavilion was represented by the Recycle art group with an installation about virtual reality. The famous Russian artist Grisha Bruskin impressed the public with his socio-political idea, his work was appreciated by the British The Guardian. Also in our pavilion there was a debutante Sasha Pirogova.

Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale

The creator of the Russian pavilion in 1914 was Shchusev Alexey Viktorovich, Honored Architect of the USSR. Not every time Russian artists managed to participate in the famous forum. So during the war years, the USSR did not take part in the exhibition until 1956. In some years, only one artist came to the exhibition, for example, Aristarkh Lentulov in 1988.

But in 1924 there were 97 Russian masters, including the famousBoris Kustodiev, who has visited the exhibition more than once. The participants of the Russian Venice Biennale are already more numerous, often they are art groups. But, despite all efforts, Russia has not yet won the Golden Lion.

1977 Biennale

The 1977 Venice Biennale was a landmark. The 38th exhibition was dedicated to dissidents and dissent, the unofficial art of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. That year the works of dissidents from the countries of the socialist camp were exhibited at the forum. This biennale is considered the most political in the history of exhibitions, causing indignation of the Soviet ambassador to Italy.

Nevertheless, the exhibition took place, providing an opportunity for many artists of Russian origin to enter the forum. The Russian National Pavilion hosted an exhibition of a group of artists that year, including Eric Bulatov, Oscar Rabin, Ilya Kabakov, Anatoly Zverev, Oleg Vasilyev, Andrey Monastyrsky, Oleg Lyagachev-Helga. There were 99 in total.

The curators were expecting to see Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Mstislav Rostropovich, Andrei Tarkovsky and other great cultural figures, but many could not come. As a result, the Venice Architecture Biennale of 1977 failed, there were no celebrities. Accordingly, the dissidents did not have state financial support, which affected the quality of the exhibition. The Italian authorities wanted to get an influx of tourists, but the cold weather and the conflict theme prevented them.

Architectural Biennale

Architecture is one of the most important tools to influence the world. This art combines creativity, science and work. Therefore, architectural art has always been held in high esteem at all biennials. The themes of architecture and contemporary art alternate at the Biennale. Previously, the topic of architecture was included in the general theme, but since 1980 the Biennale has been divided.

The Venice Architecture Biennale takes place every even year. Architectural biennales are reminiscent of the exchange of experience, it is a demonstration of new technologies and achievements. Unlike art forums, here they not only show their skills, but also discuss new projects. It is also very interesting for an ordinary viewer, the scale is captivating. In addition to aesthetic questions, social ones are being asked here. Architecture is the creation of comfortable and ergonomic housing, the construction of hospitals and schools, without taking care of a person it is meaningless.

Interesting facts

• In 2009, the notorious Yoko Ono received the Golden Lion for her contribution to the arts.
• The oldest artist at the 57th Biennale, Romanian Goethe Bretescu, was 91.
• Interesting moment - works are not for sale here.
• You can walk around all the pavilions in 2 days.
• Boris Kustodiev is the only Russian artist to win a prize at the Venice Biennale in 1907.
• Pablo Picasso banned from exhibiting his work at the Biennale for 50 years.
• Ticket price - 15-30 euros.