Anyhow, Biennale in Venice. Amazing art from all over the world in one place (well, two big areas with some scattered amongst buildings in the city).
The best exhibitions I thought were the ones by Mexico and South Korea. The Mexican work was video installations employing security technology such as motion and heat sensors to allow interaction with the work - so you enter a room of chairs and they start to rise and fall as you walk around them (see video below). Best bit was a room with projections of people asleep on the floor - as your shadow hits them they wake up and wave, smile etc. Er, you had to be there. Anyhow, his name's Rafael Lozano-Hemmer so Google him and see his work if you get the chance.
The Taiwanese work was a load of rubbish. Literally. Various bits of rubbish such as old TVs, plastic bags, fans etc wired up and (hard to describe, see video below!)
What else can I remember?
Kept bumping into Jeroen Krabbe - Dutch actor/director best known for his work in early Paul Verhoeven films or for playing the villain in "The Fugitive"- in main pavillion. Wasn't actually stalking him
British pavillion - Tracey Emin - and some bizarre merchandising such as a stick on tattoo of an Emin drawing of what can only be described as a bird perched on a penis. I have two (copies of the tattoo) so if anyone wants one send an SAE to the Sky Arts address..
Sam Taylor-Wood - why was her work in the Ukranian exhibition?
Christ on a bike. Or at least a jet (see right)
Sophie Calle. Something to do with a letter and being dumped. Lots of famous women reacting to reading said letter. Sponsored by Chanel.
Crass piece inspired by 9/11 - plane on a stick flies past some sky scrapers before crashing. One of the first pieces I see. Heart sinks. Close by is the Jesus jet. Not a great start. Maybe I just don't like art with planes.
This amazing piece was one of the highlights
To get a sense of it, here's the detail
Interactive art - in this case a giant dartboard
A new piece by a promising young talent
Who preferred puddles, cats, ice cream and chasing pigeons
Transcendental Realism - The Art of Adi Da Samraj
Quandra Contemplating the Fruits of Perfect Knowledge.
This guy's work was the first thing I saw. Having lost my notes I don't have anything except a rather glossy press pack. So, on the grounds that they gave me that I've included a mention. Which I just did.
Final pics
the British Pavillion
Crazy bird-headed people in the Canadian pavillion (a homage to Chicken Lady in "Kids in the Hall"?)
Smug Sky Arts employee in hat (note gondolers for authenticity)
and, finally, a giant Zippo
