La Biennale di Venezia

Day 3

On a gloriously sunny day, after breakfast, we embarked on the taxi boat at San Marco once again to head for Giardini; the stop where the Biennale was being held nearby. This event takes place every two years and only by the large scale of preparations used for each exhibit can you see the reason behind the year gap.

For a change, photography was allowed and I shall take you through a few of the exhibits, from the ones we visited. 

From the entrance:

ILLUMI

nations

2011 International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia

Don't Italians have a wonderful way of expressing themselves? Biennnallle. Illuminazioni.

We bought our tickets at the entrance and made our way to the vast area where pavilions, immersed in nature were spread out in the grounds. Each was commissioned by various nations taking part in this International Art Exhibition, designed by leading 20th-century architects.

The first building facing us was Padiglione Centrale.  

The ensemble of 200 stuffed pigeons above, somewhat resembled Leicester Square with the fake pigeon shit laid on the floor.  

Lynn Foulke's painting of Superman reading a newspaper headline WAR, with the thoughts in his mind questioning... "Where did I go wrong?" made me smile, with a sigh. Indeed, where does one begin?

On that thought, we left the colossal white building to face the Hungarian grand pavilion, named CRASH by Hajnal Nemeth. A car crash lit in red with a wall-hanging of words relating and reflecting on different stages of life.

  

Now, the American exhibit through the tall columns, named Gloria, under the concept of 'freedom' was amusing. 

The first thing that hits you upon entrance to the building is a statue similar to the Statue of Liberty, on a sunbed!

'Armed Freedom Lying on a Sunbed' was collaborated for the first time by a Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican to represent the US.

We got distracted by the loud sound of an organ being played in the next room. We made our way to view the church instrument reaching the high ceilings standing amid the square room and walked to the back to observe a cash machine where visitors placed their debit cards and tapped their pins, accompanied by the deafening sound of the organ, would be delivered with 'Euro cash' through the device behind the apparatus.

"these days, it's all about money... Money talks out of a church organ!" I exclaimed. 

The Israelis managed to portray a peaceful message through art.

A realistic film was shown on the floor of three boys laying the lines of their territory with knives, while the other destroyed it, only to be re-drawn. Why cannot this slogan 'One man's floor is another man's feelings' be appreciated in the real world?

We then marched through the Collezione Louis Vuitton of standing boats with a water image through each. 

Walked by the Chinese murals on the frontage of another grand assemblage.

In the Brazilian arena, these words, amongst others, were written by hand on a white wall.

'A sua Pressa Nao e´a minha pressa', meaning 'Your rush is not my rush'.

I don't personally see what the rush is all about!

Les français, constructed a scaffolding to fit the size of the immense white room, demonstrating a rapid newspaper production line of cloned, black-and-white baby images.

We finally got to my favourite exhibit by the Venezuelan artist, Fabrizio Plessi.

The first room demonstrated an overflowing rushed paper on the wall most delicately, followed by the vibrant political paintings in the next one.  

Having recently visited the country, it was no surprise to give my full vote to this exhibit.  Heads of state are being demonstrated to their true self.

George Bush lying in his all-American gear without any care and the Pope carrying the Joker from Batman on his lap.

Bravo guys... Colourful and superb!

The British exposition below, for which we had to queue to get in, was rather disappointing. The bombshell site of terrorist activity was dull, grey and rather passé. Then again, we each have different opinions. 

Vive La Difference. The works displayed, left me intrigued as to the awareness of individuals, in provocative manners, to the new, sad world we are creating, yet brought messages of hope to attention. The first step is 'awareness'.