Monkdogz Artblog

Every two years, the Venice Biennale in Italy and Art Basel in Switzerland overlap. There are fundamental differences between the two but in many ways they are symbiotic.

Fundamentally, the Venice Biennale, called by many the “Olympics” of the art world, is an exhibition purportedly of the best artists from the participating countries; 77 this year. It is billed as an art exhibition and little is said to dissuade people of the notion that it is unsullied by commercial considerations. Curated this year by an academic, Daniel Birnbaum, a darling of the art world, it continues to aim for an esoteric status. Many artists are encouraged to prepare work especially created for the Biennale. It allows room for of experimental works and often installations which may not have commercial sale values but could be significant in the development of art….or on the other hand not!

However the circus that the Biennale has become in recent years, results in major ‘horse-trading’ occurring around the periphery of the official exhibitions. Dealers, curators, collectors, museums and philanthropists all congregate well before the official opening of the exhibition and through out much of the first week to buy and sell many of the works that are on display; often in private meetings and parties, resulting in complete exhibitions being sold out before they are even seen by the general public.

On the other hand Art Basel is acknowledged by many as the premier modern and contemporary art fair in the world. 300 dealers and galleries from around the world bring works for sale of over 2500 international artists. Last year the organizers recorded over 60,000 attendees over the 5 day fair. Previous years have seen undignified scrums by well-heeled patrons, rushing to get the best deals first. The economic downturn put an end to that sort of behavior last June but everyone will be anxiously waiting to see what sort of behavior will be exhibited this year.

It is acknowledged that being invited to exhibit at the Venice Biennale can significantly boost an artist’s career and pricing. Many buyers who visit Basel will be doing so after having spent several days in Venice. Will they be in a buying mood this year, will pricing be further depressed, or will there be signs of recovery. Will the significant excitement generated by the Biennale spill over into Basel? We can only wait with bated breath!

The 53^rd Venice Biennial in Italy opens to the public on Sunday, 7^th June 2009 with press days on the proceeding three days.  The first show was in 1895 created by a Venice City Council resolution two years earlier to celebrate the King’s birthday with a national artistic exhibition.  The decision was made to make it an international event instead and well-renown international artists were invited as well as Italian artists.  200,000 visitors came to that first event; a success by any standards. Today the Biennial includes architecture, music, film, dance and theatre spread over the year. The Venice Art Biennial is considered the Olympics of the modern art world, held every two years.

The Biennale Art this year is titled “Making Worlds // Fare Mondi // Bantin Duniyan // 制造世界 // Weltenmachen // Construire des Mondes // Fazer Mundos” and is directed by Daniel Birnbaum from  Sweden; the youngest director ever of the visual arts section.  Birnbaum is a rector of an international art academy Staedelschule in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany as well as a prolific author and writer contributing to magazines such as ArtForum New York, Frieze and Parkett.  He has extensive experience in curating and directing international exhibitions around the world. 

Birnbaum explains that “A work of art is more than an object, more than a commodity. It represents a vision of the world, and if taken seriously must be seen as a way of “making a world”. A few signs marked on paper, a barely touched canvas, or a vast installation can amount to different ways of world-making. The strength of the vision is not dependent on the kind or complexity of the tools brought into play.”  This “Making Worlds” theme will be realized by more than 90 artists from 77 countries on all continents by using installation art, video and film, sculpture, performance, painting, drawing and a parade.

The first foreign pavilion was created by the Belgians in 1907.  As the years passed, more and more countries built their own pavilions.  Today there are 29 countries with pavilions.  The US pavilion is being represented by Bruce Nauman, the New Mexico conceptual artist and sculptor  who is known as a pioneer of Post Minimalist video and performance art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art has been chosen as the commissioner of the US pavilion.  

Other US artists exhibiting at the Biennial include John Baldessari (who with Yoko Ono are each being presented with Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement awards), Tony Conrad, Spencer Finch, William Forsythe, Wade Guyton & Kelley Walker, Rachel Harrison, Joan Jonas, Miranda July, Sherrie Levine, Arto Lindsay, Gordon, Matta-Clark and Pae White.  

The Biennial will run until November 22^nd 2009.