For over a century, the Venice Biennale has been exhibiting contemporary artists on an international level. Its 6 month long running displays the work of living (and occasionally dead) artists who are making a special impact. Yet the Biennale has evolved over time, and in the course of its evolution it has also changed the way we look at art. I hope to explore the way changes in the art market and society have caused shifts in the governance and practices of the Biennale. Also, I hope to be able to address several questions including: What is the difference between a Biennale and an art fair? How are artists chosen to exhibit in the Biennale? How does the branding involved in the so called “Venice Effect” influence the careers of artists shown? How does the Venice Biennale’s inclusion of countries effect the art market in those places, esp. in reference to countries recovering from or still undergoing difficult financial, governmental, or cultural shock (ie war, recession, authority change, religious change, etc)? What is the role of the “brand” in this context, and how does the Biennale market itself? How does the location of the Biennale in Venice effect the meaning of the biennial and the work shown there? What does the future look like for Biennales with the success of art fairs internationally?
Parables - The Bangladesh Pavilion, 2011
Installation by Mahbubur Rahman
The Venice Biennale, Past Present and Future.
An explanation of its contemporary state:
how it’s run,
how it’s marketed,
the role of the government,
the role of curators,
the artists chosen,
the length of the show,
the layout of the exhibition spaces (The Arsenale, The Giardini)
Its beginnings in 1895:
the founders,
the founding intentions,
it’s immediate effect on society in 1895.
A changing culture:
the de-commercialization of society and its effects on sales at the Biennale.
how selling stopped but the market continued.
the effect of branding on tourism and art sales.
Its impact:
how the show effects growing artistic communities in countries just emerging on the international art scene (Iraq, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabie, Rwanda).
how the show effects the salability of exhibited artists.
Its future:
How future generations will perceive the Biennale,
what growth means for the show and the city,
how the biennale contends with the growing popularity of art fairs,
strategies for the biennale’s survival
Links and sources:
The Art Fair Age by Paco Barragan for Metropolis M-
http://metropolism.com/magazine/2008-no3/the-art-fair-age/english
The Venice Effect by Olav Velthuis for The Art Newspaper -
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/The-Venice-Effect/23951
Old Patina Encircles Fresh Art in Venice by Carol Vogel for The New York Times -
The Venice Biennale Homepage -
http://www.labiennale.org/en/Home.html
Bangladeshi Art Has Its Biennale Debut by Margherita Stancati for TWSJ -
http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/06/06/bangladeshi-art-has-its-biennale-debut/
Venice Biennale: the political power of curating by country by Owen Sheers for The Guardian -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jun/07/venice-biennale-political-power-curating-country