The 58th Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition held at the Giardini and Arsenale from Saturday 11 May until Sunday 24 November 2019 will be titled May You Live In Interesting Times. Curated by Ralph Rugoff, Director of Hayward Gallery in London since 2006, and organised by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta, the exhibition will include 79 artists from all over the world and will include 90 National Participations in the historical 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: Algeria, Ghana, Madagascar, and Pakistan. The Dominican Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan will for the first time have their own national pavilions. In addition, there will be 21 official Collateral events taking place throughout the city and two special projects.
The 58th Venice Biennale will reflect upon precarious aspects of existence today, including different threats to key traditions, institutions and relationships of the “post-war order – Ralph Rugoff Director
Ralph Rugoff said: “May You Live in Interesting Times will no doubt include artworks that reflect upon precarious aspects of existence today, including different threats to key traditions, institutions and relationships of the “post-war order.” But let us acknowledge at the outset that art does not exercise its forces in the domain of politics. Art cannot stem the rise of nationalist movements and authoritarian governments in different parts of the world, for instance, nor can it alleviate the tragic fate of displaced peoples across the globe (whose numbers now represent almost one percent of the world’s entire population).
But in an indirect fashion, perhaps art can be a kind of guide for how to live and think in ‘interesting times.’ The 58th Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition will not have a theme per se but will highlight a general approach to making art and a view of art’s social function as embracing both pleasure and critical thinking. The Exhibition will focus on the work of artists who challenge existing habits of thought and open up our readings of objects and images, gestures and situations. Art of this kind grows out of a practice of entertaining multiple perspectives: of holding in mind seemingly contradictory and incompatible notions and juggling diverse ways of making sense of the world. Artists who think in this manner offer alternatives to the meaning of so-called facts by suggesting other ways of connecting and contextualising them. Animated by boundless curiosity and puncturing wit, their work encourages us to look askance at all unquestioned categories, concepts and subjectivities. It invites us to consider multiple alternatives and unfamiliar vantage points and to discern the ways in which “order” has become the simultaneous presence of diverse orders.
List of Invited Artists 58th Venice Biennale
1. Abu Hamdan, Lawrence
b. 1985 Jordan, lives and works in Beirut
2. Akunyili Crosby, Njideka
b. 1983 Nigeria, lives and works in Los Angeles
3. Altındere, Halil
b. 1971 Turkey, lives and works in Istanbul
4. Armitage, Michael
b. 1984 Kenya, lives and works in London and Nairobi
5. Arunanondchai, Korakrit
b. 1986 Thailand, lives and works in New York and Bangkok for the work in Arsenale, in collaboration with
Gvojic, Alex
b.1984 USA, lives and works in New York
6. Atkins, Ed
b. 1982 United Kingdom, lives and works in Berlin and Copenhagen
7. Atoui, Tarek
b. 1980 Lebanon, lives and works in Paris
8. Bader, Darren
b. 1978 USA, lives and works in New York City and elsewhere
9. Baghramian, Nairy
b.1971 Iran, lives and works in Berlin
10. Beloufa, Neïl
b. 1985 France, lives and works in Paris
11. Bircken, Alexandra
b. Germany, lives and works in Berlin
12. Bove, Carol
b. 1971 Switzerland, lives and works in New York
13. Büchel, Christoph
b. 1966 Switzerland, lives and works in Reykjavik and Basel
14. Carbotta, Ludovica
b. 1982 Italy, lives and works in Barcelona
15. Catala, Antoine
b. 1975 France, lives and works in New York
16. Cheng, Ian
b. 1984 USA, lives and works in New York
17. Condo, George
b. 1957 USA, lives and works in New York
18. Da Corte, Alex
b. 1980 USA, lives and works in Philadelphia
19. Darling, Jesse
b. United Kingdom, lives and works in London and Berlin
20. Douglas, Stan
b. 1960 Canada, lives and works in Vancouver
21. Durham, Jimmie
b. 1940 USA, lives and works in Berlin
22. Eisenman, Nicole
b. 1965 France, lives and works in New York
23. Epaminonda, Haris
b. 1980 Republic of Cyprus, lives and works in Berlin
24. Favaretto, Lara
b. 1973 Italy, lives and works in Turin
25. Gaillard, Cyprien
b. 1980 France, lives and works in Berlin
26. Gill, Gauri
b. 1970 India, lives and works in New Delhi
27. Gonzalez-Foerster, Dominique
b. 1965 France, lives and works in Paris
28. Gupta, Shilpa
b. 1976 India, lives and works in Mumbai
29. Gupta, Soham
b. 1988 India, lives and works in Kolkata
30. Gutierrez, Martine
b. 1989 USA, lives and works in New York
31. Halawani, Rula
b. 1964 Palestine, lives and works in Jerusalem
32. Hamilton, Anthea
b. 1978 United Kingdom, lives and works in London
33. Hein, Jeppe
b. 1974 Denmark, lives and works in Berlin
34. Hernandez, Anthony
b. 1947 USA, lives and works in Los Angeles and Idaho
35. Ikeda, Ryoji
b. 1966 Japan, lives and works in Paris and Kyoto
36. Jafa, Arthur
b. 1960 USA, lives and works in Los Angeles
37. Jamie, Cameron
b. 1969 USA, lives in Paris, works in Paris and Cologne
38. Joseph, Kahlil
b. 1981 USA, lives and works in Los Angeles
39. Kadyrova, Zhanna
b. 1981 Ukraine, lives and works in Kyiv
40. Kang, Suki Seokyeong
b. 1977 Republic of Korea, lives and works in Seoul
41. Katayama, Mari
b. 1987 Japan, lives and works in Gunma
42. Lee Bul
b. 1964 Republic of Korea, lives and works in Seoul
43. Liu Wei
b. 1972 People’s Republic of China, lives and works in Beijing
44. Loboda, Maria
b. 1979 Poland, lives and works in Berlin
45. Lolis, Andreas
b. 1970 Albania, lives and works in Athens
46. Marclay, Christian
b. 1955 USA, lives and works in London
47. Margolles, Teresa
b. 1963 Mexico, lives and works in Mexico City and Madrid
48. Mehretu, Julie
b. 1970 Ethiopia, lives and works in New York
49. Minoliti, Ad
b. 1980 Argentina, lives and works in Buenos Aires
50. Moulène, Jean-Luc
b. 1955 France, lives and works in Paris
51. Muholi, Zanele
b. 1972 Republic of South Africa, lives and works in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town
52. Mulleady, Jill
b. 1980 Uruguay, lives and works in Los Angeles
53. Müller, Ulrike
b. 1971 Austria, lives and works in New York
54. Nabuqi
b. 1984 People’s Republic of China, lives and works in Beijing
55. Nkanga, Otobong
b. 1974 Nigeria, lives and works in Antwerp
56. Norbu, Khyentse
b. 1961 Bhutan, Khyentse Norbu’s rigorous international teaching schedule requires continuous travel. He has residences in India and Bhutan
57. Orupabo, Frida
b. 1986 Norway, lives and works in Oslo
58. Rafman, Jon
b. 1981 Canada, lives and works in Montreal
59. Rico, Gabriel
b. 1980 Mexico, lives and works in Guadalajara
60. Saputra, Handiwirman
b. 1975 Indonesia, lives and works in Yogyakarta
61. Saraceno, Tomás
b. 1973 Argentina, lives and works in Berlin
62. Serapinas, Augustas
b. 1990 Lithuania, lives and works in Vilnius
63. Singer, Avery
b. 1987 USA, lives and works in New York
64. Slavs and Tatars
founded 2006, based in Berlin
65. Smith, Michael E.
b. 1977 USA, lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island
66. Steyerl, Hito
b. 1966 Germany, lives and works in Berlin
67. Strachan, Tavares
b. 1979 The Bahamas, lives and works in New York
68. Sun Yuan (b. 1972 People’s Republic of China) and Peng Yu (b. 1974 People’s Republic of China), both live and work in Beijing
69. Taylor, Henry
b. 1958 USA, lives and works in Los Angeles
70. Trockel, Rosemarie
b. 1952 Germany, lives and works in Cologne
71. Upson, Kaari
b. 1972 USA, lives and works in Los Angeles
72. Ursuţa, Andra
b. 1979 Romania, lives and works in New York
73. Vo, Danh
b. 1975 Vietnam, lives and works in Mexico DF
74. Wa Lehulere, Kemang
b. 1984 Republic of South Africa, lives and works in Cape Town
75. Weerasethakul, Apichatpong
b. 1970 Thailand, lives and works in Chiang Mai for the work in Arsenale, in collaboration with Hisakado, Tsuyoshi
b. 1981 Japan, lives and works in Kyoto
76. Wertheim, Margaret and Wertheim, Christine b. 1958 Australia, both live and work in Los Angeles
77. Yi, Anicka
b. 1971 Republic of Korea, lives and works in New York
78. Yin Xiuzhen
b. 1963 People’s Republic of China, lives and works in Beijing
79. Yu Ji
b. 1985 People’s Republic of China, lives and works in Shanghai and Vienna
SPECIAL PROJECTS realised 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 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 in the 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.
The 58th International Art Exhibition held at the Giardini and Arsenale in Venice from Saturday 11 May until Sunday 24 November 2019 will be titled May You Live In Interesting Times. Curated by Ralph Rugoff, Director of Hayward Gallery in London since 2006, and organised by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta, the exhibition will include 79 artists from all over the world and will include 90 National Participations in the historical 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: Algeria, Ghana, Madagascar, and Pakistan. The Dominican Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan will for the first time have their own national pavilions. In addition, there will be 21 official Collateral events taking place throughout the city and two special projects.
SPECIAL PROJECTS 58th Venice Biennale realised 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 work in Forte Marghera, inside the building called the Austrian Polveriera.
Applied Arts Pavilion Special Project, 58th Venice Biennale Arsenale, Sale d’Armi
Marysia Lewandowska is the artist set to exhibit in the Pavilion of Applied Arts located in the 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.
The Collateral Events at the Biennale Arte 2019
21 Collateral Events are scheduled for the 58th International Art Exhibition entitled May You Live In Interesting Times, curated by Ralph Rugoff and organized by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta.
The Collateral Events at the 58th Venice Biennale, 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 participation that enrich the diversity of voices that characterizes the exhibition of Venice.
58th Venice Biennale Official Collateral Events:
Palazzo delle Prigioni, Castello, 4209, San Marco 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Taipei Fine Arts Museum of Taiwan www.tfam.museum
AFRICOBRA: Nation Time Ca’ Faccanon, San Marco, 5016 (Poste Centrali) 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: bardoLA http://www.bardoLA.org
Artists Need to Create on the Same Scale that Society Has the Capacity to Destroy: Mare Nostrum
Complesso della Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Penitenti, Fondamenta di Cannaregio, 910
8 May – 24 November Promoter: The Brooklyn Rail www.brooklynrail.org
Baselitz – Academy
Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia, Dorsoduro, 1050 (Campo della Carità) 8 May – 8 September
Promoter: Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia www.gallerieaccademia.it
Beverly Pepper – Art in the Open
Spazio Thetis, Arsenale Novissimo, Castello, 2737/f 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Fondazione Progetti Beverly Pepper www.fondazioneprogettibeverlypepper.com
Catalonia in Venice_to lose your head (idols)
Cantieri Navali, Castello, 40 (Fondamenta Quintavalle) 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Institut Ramon Llull www.llull.cat; www.toloseyourhead.llull.cat
Förg in Venice
Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Dorsoduro, 874 11 May – 23 August
Promoter: Dallas Museum of Art https://www.dma.org/
Future Generation Art Prize 2019 @ Venice
Università IUAV di Venezia, Ca’ Tron, Santa Croce, 1957 11 May – 18 August
Promoter: PinchukArtCentre; Victor Pinchuk Foundation www.pinchukartcentre.org; www.pinchukfund.org
FutuRoma
Dorsoduro, 417 (Zattere)
11 May – 24 November
Promoter: European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) https://eriac.org/
Heidi Lau: Apparition
Arsenale, Castello, 2126/A (Campo della Tana) 11 May – 10 November
Promoter: The Macao Museum of Art http://www.mam.gov.mo/
Ichich – Ichihr – Ichwir / We All Have to Die
Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Castello, 5252 (Campo Santa Maria Formosa) 8 May – 24 November
Promoter: Fondazione Querini Stampalia
www.querinistampalia.org
Living Rocks: A Fragment of the Universe
Magazzino del Sale n. 5, Dorsoduro, 262 (Fondamenta Zattere ai Saloni) 8 May – 24 November
Promoter: Art Gallery of South Australia https://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au
Philippe Parreno – Displacing Realities
Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, San Marco, 1353 (Calle del Ridotto) 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Fondation Louis Vuitton
www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Pino Pascali. Dall’immagine alla forma
Palazzo Cavanis, Dorsoduro, 920 (Fondamenta Zattere ai Gesuati) 10 May – 24 November
Promoter: Fondazione Pino Pascali
www.museopinopascali.it
Processional, an Installation by Todd Williamson
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà, Castello 3701 (Riva degli Schiavoni) 8 May – 24 November
Promoter: MAK Center for Art and Architecture
makcenter.org
Salon Suisse: s l o w
Palazzo Trevisan degli Ulivi, Dorsoduro, 810 (Campo Sant’ Agnese) 11 May; 19-20-21 September; 17-18-19 October; 21-22-23 November Promoter: Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
www.prohelvetia.ch; www.biennials.ch
Scotland + Venice presents Charlotte Prodger
Arsenale Docks, Castello, 40
11 May – 24 November Promoter: Scotland + Venice https://scotlandandvenice.com/
Shirley Tse: Stakeholders, Hong Kong in Venice
Arsenale,Castello, 2126 (Campo della Tana)
11 May – 24 November
Promoters: M+ and Hong Kong Arts Development Council www.westkowloon.hk/en/mplus; www.hkadc.org.hk; www.vbexhibitions.hk
The Death of James Lee Byars
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione, Fondamenta Zattere ai Gesuati 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Vanhaerents Art Collection www.vanhaerentsartcollection.com
The Spark Is You: Parasol unit in Venice
Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia, San Marco, 2810 (Campo Santo Stefano) 9 May – 23 November
Promoter: Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
Wales in Venice: Sean Edwards
Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Castello, 450 (Fondamenta San Gioacchin) 11 May – 24 November
Promoter: Cymru yn Fenis / Wales in Venice
www.arts.wales
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