Venice Biennale 2009 report
The latest edition of the most significant and oldest art event in the world, the 2009 Venice biennale, felt smoothly dressed, well mannered and intelligent if somewhat low on winning eccentricities or blinding flashes of genius.
See our highlights from the Venice Biennale
In director Daniel Birnbaum’s catch-all exhibition, Making Worlds, spread across the Italian Pavilion and the Arsenale, there was much high quality work by well-regarded artists – from hip young New Yorker conceptualists Guyton/Walker’s painting installation to Wolfgang Tillman’s reliably brilliant photographic experiments – but few surprises.
Within the Giardini, at the British pavilion Steve McQueen’s film of the park in winter with its smattering of lost mutts, cruising men and wreathes of mist was pleasingly poetic, if plodding. It was Bruce Nauman’s immaculately curated retrospective in the American Pavilion (and spread out over two other spaces within the city) that picked up this year’s Golden Lion, though Danish-Norwegian art duo Elmgreen & Dragset created the biggest buzz at the Nordic pavilion (pictured top), for which they received a special gong at the prizegiving. In a send-up of artworld foibles, the double pavilions were transformed into two fictional homes – one a family residence left in the wake of a Bergmanesque drama, and the other the sleek modernist pad of a wealthy gay playboy with a lavish taste in art, design and gigolos, whose corpse was to be found floating in the pool outside.
See and read more about the Danish and Nordic pavillions
Of the off-site activities, real life super collector Francois Pinault’s new foundation at Punta della Dogana was a must see, with an opulent selection (Charles Ray, The Chapmans, Mike Kelley, the list just goes on and on…) from what is considered to be the finest hoard of contemporary art in the world.
See and read more about the new Punta della Doganamore
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published