Until the end of November 26^th, one of the most prestigious worldwide art fairs is delighting us with a wide selection of artist from all over the globe. Come and enjoy the 57^th edition of the Venice Biennale.

If we start thinking about Venice, the first image coming to our mind is the floating city. If we start listing the reasons why it should be in your top destinations, the result will be an endless list. Experiences such as enjoying the Italian gastronomy, the coffee, go for a gondola ride to see the city from another perspective, take a vaporetto, visit the islands and get lost in their magical, cozy and sometimes tiny streets. And of course, admire the architecture, the many wonderful facades, and buildings as a result of the European Renaissance. Italy has so much history behind… it gives the city a cultural and special touch. It really inspires you.

ABOUT THE VENICE BIENNALE

We have to travel back in time, until 1895, when the first “Biennale di Venezia” took place as an International Art Fair. We are talking about an art fair with no less than 122 years of story. Years later, in 1930, others arts such as music, theater, and cinema joined the initiative with their own festivals which gave to the Venice Biennale an added value spreading the interest among other fields as well as more people. In 1980, architecture got its own international festival. And last but not least, dance got in too in 1999.

Besides the arts involved, the Venice Biennale has a pretty interesting agenda. There are a lot of collateral events going on around Venice, such as performances, talks, workshops… There is always something happening aiming to connect people, interact, make a dialogue… You can breathe art and culture in every single corner. Isn’t it inspiring?

We consider ourselves art enthusiast. So, we had to go all the way to Venice looking for these goose bumps art makes us feel.

57TH EDITION

What is different this edition?

The name of this edition “Viva Arte Viva” couldn’t express better the aim of this edition. We have to thank art for existing. Long life to art and the artists that make it possible. We have to thank art for making us feel alive, for letting us spread our imagination, our thoughts, and horizons further. For awakening inside of us the sense of beauty, creativity, a sense of humanity.

Interaction, connection, feelings, sometimes really intimate, humanism, expressions, reality, emotions, passion, enthusiasm, protest, a journey to the unknown, to our past, research, creativity, mindsets and over all dialogue as Paolo Baratta and Christine Macel said. They are the President of the Biennale and the Director of the 57^th Venice Biennale respectively. Dialoguing without a word, just by artistic and visual expressions… All the above is what it evoked us and what we want to share with our art lover readers but of course, you have to get there and feel it in your own skin.

ARTISTS

Venice Biennale has around 120 artists from all over the globe exhibiting their artworks at the different venues. On top of that, there are national pavilions, and plenty of exhibition spaces like Ca’ Giustinian, Giardini della Biennale, Arsenale and Central Pavillion. Countries as Nigeria and the islands of Kiribati, Antigua and Barbuda have participated for the first time in this 57^th edition. We have to praise the commissioners and curators work. They have a huge responsibility by selecting who, what, why and how to expose in such a prestigious art fair, keeping the high quality and meeting the expectations of visitors.

THE VENUES

During our stay in Venice, we visited the two main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale. We would have needed a whole week to see it the whole Biennale.  We want to thank Sabrina Amrani. She guided us in order to spend our time wisely and enjoy the exhibitions to the max.

GIARDINI

The Giardini, garden in Italian, it’s not a common garden. It was made by Emperor Napoleon in the 19^th century. In this venue, you can find the general pavilion which has been hosting the Biennale since the very beginning. In the general pavilion, we had the pleasure to see the exhibit by Abdulla Al Saadi: Al Saadi’s diaries. It consists of 39 individual pieces in graphite, each one placed in a box.

Over the years, 29 national pavilions (Japan, Hungary, Spain, Venezuela, Austria, Israel among others…) were built in the surroundings of the general pavilion. We can find iconic buildings by genius as Gerrit Rietveld, Alvar Aalto or Jossef Hoffmann.

Here everything has history and plenty of stories behind. The Venice Biennale has been shaped throughout the years and editions. It’s full of the European charm and culture.

In this venue, you can also find the Biennale library, bookshop and cafeteria to take a break and understand more what you have seen so far.

ARSENALE

The Arsenale will captivate you with its industrial appearance. The first International Architecture Exhibition took place here. Inside the Arsenale, Corderie is an impressive monumental place that makes you feel tiny while you are walking next to the columns. Built in the 14^th century and rebuilt in the 16^th century, it used to be a place where they were manufacturing ship tools such as ropes and cables.

The art pieces interact with the building itself without detracting from the artwork. You will be able to see how the time has passed but the architecture remains.

It’s funny, that back in the day, in Arsenale were working 2000 people and nowadays kind of the same amount of people is still going there with a completely different purpose. If these walls could talk what they have seen through all these years…

Enjoy the good weather wandering around the Arsenale and discovering the outdoor exhibits as well as the interventions made around Venice.

Here you can also find the Italian Pavilion, the national pavilions of UAE, Argentina, Turkey, Croatia, Mexico, New Zealand among others… Also, a bookshop and a cafeteria.

Next edition will take place in two years. I am not sure if we can wait that much…the good news are that the Biennale of Architecture is taking place next year! Counting down…

On the meantime Art lovers let’s say it out loud …

VIVA ARTE VIVA!

If you want to have more information, check their website, Insta, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube accounts.

And if you like art, don’t miss any of the other articles part of #DFNART. The Ajala Project, World Art Dubai or ING Creatives are there for your enjoyment too.