Venice: What to See & Do: Events: Venice Biennale

Venice Biennale

Achim Borchardt-Hume, a curator of modern and contemporary art at Tate Modern, comments on what not to miss during the 52nd Biennale, which runs through November 21 and is curated by Robert Storr, the Dean of the Yale University School of Art:

“Storr has put together an elegant, museum-like exhibition which includes well-known artists as well as some more surprising personal choices. The Italian Pavilion, in particular, draws on Storr’s long-term engagement with artists like Gerhard Richter, Ellsworth Kelly and Sigmar Polke and to some may appear as vaguely historicising as a consequence while the Arsenale betrays Storr’s ambition to update his curatorial choices to the present and an extended geo-political territory.”

“I also recommend the Portuguese pavilion with an installation by Ângela Ferreira referring to a colonial design project by Jean Prouvé and the Mexican Pavilion with interactive installations by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in the suggestive setting of Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel near the Chiesa dei Miracoli.”

“For those venturing as far as the Giudecca to see the Welsh and the Lebanese Pavilions make sure not to miss Breda Beban’s seductive video installation ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Gucha.’ ”