The Must-See Exhibitions at the 2022 Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia), one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated art events in the world, has returned for its 59th edition in 2022. Delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Biennale promises to be a truly international showcase of contemporary art, featuring groundbreaking works from artists and curators across the globe. From powerful national pavilions to immersive installations and emerging talent, here are the must-see highlights that art enthusiasts won't want to miss.
The Milk of Dreams: The Biennale's Central Exhibition
Curated by Cecilia Alemani, the central exhibition, titled "The Milk of Dreams," takes its name from a book by Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. This ambitious exhibition explores the transformative role of the human body and its metamorphic potential, featuring works by 213 artists from 58 countries. Alemani's vision is a celebration of the visceral and the uncanny, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the surreal and the fantastical.
Standout National Pavilions
While the central exhibition is a major draw, the national pavilions at the Biennale are often the true stars of the show. This year, several pavilions are garnering significant buzz and critical acclaim:
The United States Pavilion: Featuring works by Simone Leigh, the first Black woman to represent the United States at the Biennale, this pavilion explores themes of Black feminism, materiality, and the African diaspora.
The British Pavilion: Sonia Boyce's powerful and immersive installation, "Feeling Her Way," pays tribute to Black female performers and artists, offering a profound commentary on identity and representation.
The French Pavilion: Zineb Sedira's "Dreams Have No Titles" is a poetic exploration of language, memory, and displacement, featuring works that span film, sculpture, and installation.
Emerging Artists to Watch
In addition to established names, the Biennale is also a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents. Here are a few rising stars to keep an eye on:
Precious Okoyomon (United States): Known for their multidisciplinary practice that blends performance, sculpture, and poetry, Okoyomon's works at the Biennale explore themes of identity, desire, and the natural world.
Precious Okoyomon, installation view of To See The Earth Before the End of the World, 2022, at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, “The Milk of Dreams,” in April 2022. Photo by Roberto Marossi. Courtesy of the artist and La Biennale di Venezia.
Shuvinai Ashoona (Canada): An Inuit artist from Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Ashoona's vibrant and imaginative drawings offer a unique perspective on the Arctic landscape and Inuit culture.
Bosco Sodi (Mexico): Sodi's large-scale sculptures, crafted from raw materials like clay and volcanic rock, are a powerful exploration of materiality and the relationship between nature and human intervention.
Immersive Installations and Performances
Beyond traditional exhibitions, the Biennale also features a range of immersive installations and performances that challenge traditional notions of art and audience engagement. Don't miss works like:
"Sun & Sea (Marina)" by Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė, and Lina Lapelytė (Lithuania): This monumental opera performance explores themes of climate change and the human relationship with the ocean.
"The Milk of Dreams" by Katharina Fritsch (Germany): Fritsch's massive sculptural installation of a giant hand towering over the Giardini is a surreal and thought-provoking addition to the Biennale's central exhibition.
Photo: Formafantasma
"The Barca Nostra" by Christoph Büchel (Austria): This powerful installation features a fishing boat that sank in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, killing over 800 migrants, serving as a poignant reminder of the ongoing refugee crisis.
The 2022 Venice Biennale is a truly global celebration of contemporary art, offering a diverse array of exhibitions, installations, and performances that challenge, inspire, and provoke. From the central exhibition's exploration of the human body to the powerful narratives of national pavilions and the innovative works of emerging artists, this year's Biennale promises an unforgettable and transformative experience for art enthusiasts worldwide.
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