Sayart.net - Highlights of Venice Biennale Exhibitions

Courtesy of the artist/Anna Lena Films, Paris

The Venice Biennale, renowned as the world's largest art festival, has expanded beyond its main venues, the Arsenale and the Giardini, over time. This growth has led to the emergence of collateral events, exhibitions organized alongside the central event but technically outside its confines, sanctioned by the Biennale's foundation. While many collateral events are sponsored by major galleries or foundations, occasionally, one stands out among the rest. Additionally, museums and foundations across the city contribute to the cultural landscape with their own exhibitions. The Venice Biennale offers a diverse range of artistic experiences, both official and unofficial, for visitors to explore beyond its iconic main venues.

According to information from ARTnews, here are some of the many exhibitions you can see during the Biennale.

1.“Pierre Huyghe. Liminal” at Palazzo Grassi

▲ Pierre Huyghe, Liminal, 2024 / Photo: ©Pierre Huyghe, by SIAE 2023/Courtesy of the artist/Anna Lena Films, Paris

The talk of Venice this year, outside of the Biennale, revolves around Pierre Huyghe's latest creation. Known for his eclectic use of materials, from AI to live bees, Huyghe explores the blurred boundary between the human and nonhuman. His art work, "Liminal (2024)," Central to it is an image of a nude figure with a black hole for a face, symbolizing Huyghe's ongoing inquiry into the relationship between humans and the world around them.

2.“All African People’s Consulate” at Castello Gallery

▲ Dread Scott, All African People’s Consulate (detail of passport interior), 2024 / Photo : Courtesy the artist and Cristin Tierney Gallery, New York

As the art world gathers in Venice this week, it reflects a diverse coalition of individuals who have transcended national borders. However, not everyone has the opportunity to cross these boundaries. Dread Scott's project aims to address this disparity by envisioning a consulate for an imagined Pan-African, Afrofuturist union of nations. Presented by the Africa Center and the Open Society Foundations, the exhibition invites people of African descent to apply for passports to this fictional union and offers visas to others. This initiative symbolizes an aspiration for a different way of life, promoting cultural and diplomatic relations beyond traditional geopolitical constraints.

3.“Elias Sime: Dichotomy ፊት አና ጀርባ jerba” at Spazio Tana

▲ Elias Sime, detail of The Earth III / Photo : Photo Izzy Leung/Courtesy James Cohan Gallery, New York

Elias Sime's artworks are actually intricate compositions made from recycled computer parts like wiring and keyboard pieces. These pieces, renowned for their commentary on the influx of technological waste from the West to the Global South, have garnered praise from critics. Following his appearance in the 2022 Biennale, Sime returns to Venice with an exhibition organized by Germany's Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, foreshadowing a forthcoming retrospective next year. Alongside his signature smartphone bit abstractions, the show will showcase a new sculpture crafted from stone.

4.“Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior” at Palazzo Soranzo van Axel

▲ Shahzia Sikander, Parallax (still) / Photo : ©Shahzia Sikander/Courtesy Sean Kelly Gallery

Shahzia Sikander, a Pakistan-born artist based in the US, is credited with revitalizing contemporary interest in Persian miniature painting. Her miniatures defy convention, incorporating fantastical elements and references to contemporary conflicts alongside traditional imagery. Sikander's art often blends present-day struggles with historical Mughal and Hindu iconography. Ahead of a forthcoming comprehensive survey next year, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art collaborate to present a selection of Sikander's work, including new glass pieces.

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