Venice Biennale 59 was fascinating, invigorating and extremely engaging. Curator Cecilia Aleman’s Milk of Dreams shares its title with surrealist artist Leonora Carrington fantastic book and illustrations with the same name. It describes a constantly changing magical world brought about by the prism of imagination. By appointing predominantly women artists and curators, Aleman’s releases a unique life force that is inventive and liberal. The artists’ holistic way of looking at life and their multifarious narrative definitely stirs the mind! Aleman has empowered women and marginalized communities, revealing a maturity and profound understanding of the present world. The Biennale has showcased artworks of 213 artists (21 male artist) from over 58 countries. The works takes the viewer on a fascinating journey of sculpture, installations, videos, paintings and performing art. The 80 national Pavilions have worked with issues of identity, race and social structure. Afro American artist Simone Leigh has converted the US Pavilion in Giardini into a mini Africa with the aid of thatched roof and bronze and ceramic sculptures. A 24 ft bronze female form with a concave disc for a head is placed at the forecourt while a black woman washing clothes can be seen inside. With these sculptures (Sovereignty) and videos Leigh crafts a strong narrative of the black femme subjectivity.
Vanshree, 1994, Woven, dyed fibre, 248.9 × 129.5 × 88. cm
Collection: Jayashree Bhartia
Rudra, 1982, Hemp fibre, 297 × 125 × 88 cm
Collection: National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Ministry
of Culture, Government of India
Devi, 1982, Fibre, 217 × 142 × 116 cm
Collection: National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Ministry
of Culture, Government of India
59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, The
Milk of Dreams
Photo by: Andrea Avezzù, Roberto Marossi, Marco Cappelletti,
Marco Cappelletti con Filippo Rossi, Jacopo Salvi, Ela Bialkowska
Courtesy: La Biennale di Venezia
In the same way she has created a huge bronze sculpture of an Afro American woman with no eyes titled Brick House, at the entrance of the Arsenale. She is imbued with beauty, power and quiet reflection. For the first time a black British artist Sonia Boyce was awarded the Golden Lion for the UK Pavilion, in the national competition. With “Feeling her way” Boyce deconstructs the language of art. She uses jazz as her medium for communication and the jamming of Poppy Ajudha, Jacqui Dankworth and Tanita Tikaram come alive, echoing freedom, power and vulnerability. What a spectacle!!! Projected on big video screens they completely mesmerize the spectators. Sonia Boyce’s employs black British movement photography, wallpaper, and videos to get her message across. The French Pavilion Dreams have no Titles offers a unique experience allowing the viewer to share different facets of the artist life. Curated by Franco Algerian artist Zineb Sedira the installation has an autobiographical approach. On entering the pavilion you first encounter a bar. In the adjourning room you are invited to watch her journey from Algeria to..
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