It's a wrap: Venice Biennale 2007
The Venice Biennale officially concluded on 21 November 2007, drawing to a close Australia’s most successful year of participation so far at the prestigious international art event.
Australia’s presence at the Biennale was highly visible and created enormous interest amongst visitors and media.
A record number of over 210,000 visitors attended the three exhibitions by Australian representatives – Susan Norrie, Daniel Von Sturmer and Callum Morton.
The now-famous yellow Australian promotional bags were seen on the shoulders of many eager visitors to the pavillions.
There was immense positive media and critical response to the three exhibitions, with the three artists already being offered lucrative opportunities resulting from their Biennale participation.
Susan Norrie has been shortlisted for the third Artes Mundi Prise - one of the world’s largest visual arts prizes. The winner will be announced in April 2008 in Wales. Daniel Von Sturmer has received several invitations to exhibit in international galleries and museums including the presentation of The Object of Things. Callum Morton travelled to the Netherlands in July 2007 for a site visit for a new site-specific work for the Fundament Foundation to open in June 2008.
The three artists selected for exhibition by Robert Storr, director 52nd International Art Exhibition – Christian Capurro, Rosemary Laing and Shaun Gladwell – have also received considerable interest in their work and are in discussions regarding future opportunities.
Australia Council for the Arts chief executive officer Kathy Keele said: ‘This year’s biennale was a successful presentation for the artists exhibiting at this critically important international event, and for the promotion of the dynamism and diversity of Australian contemporary art.’
‘It has been an honour to present the work of three such extraordinary artists, and we extend our warm congratulations to all of the artists on their achievement.’
During the event Australia Council distributed over 7000 exhibition catalogues and over 12,000 brochures to key international media and curatorial contacts. The Australian Venice Biennale website (AU3), received over 800,000 hits.
In addition to the Australian artist contingent, 43 individuals participated in the Australia Council’s professional development program at the Venice Biennale. This included 11 senior and emerging curators, four senior and emerging Indigenous curators, four visual arts educators and 24 exhibition staff.
The program provided a great opportunity for all involved to look at and experience a wide range of international and contemporary art practice, stimulating new ways of presenting, discussing and working with contemporary Australian art.
Australia was also represented in Venice at the Australian Print Workshop’s artist in Residency project. Artists Rick Amor, Jon Cattapan, Jan Senbergs and Louise Weaver undertook a three-week residency project at the Venice Printmakers Studio. The artists produced a suite of limited edition prints that will be on display at the APW Gallery in Melbourne from 24 November until 2 February.
Australia will continue its reign in Venice in 2008 with the Architecture Biennale in September. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) will present Abundance, an exhibition highlighting the breadth and depth of Australia’s architectural practice, with commissioner Lucy Turnbull at the helm.
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