13th Lyon Biennale explores modern life through 59 contemporary artists
The 13th Lyon Biennale, titled 'La vie moderne,' took place from September 10, 2015, to January 3, 2016, under the curation of Ralph Rugoff. This exhibition showcased the works of 59 contemporary artists at two different locations, emphasizing themes from the early 21st century instead of historical modernism. Highlights included Johannes Kahrs's paintings of Justin Bieber and Amy Winehouse, Magdi Mostafa's LED sculpture that mapped Cairo, and Lai Chih-Sheng's installation made from exhibition waste. Additionally, a music video by Cecilia Bengolea and Jeremy Deller was featured. Cameron Jamie's Halloween-themed photos and Alex da Corte's blue-lit room offered personal insights. The exhibition, despite some weaker contributions from Jon Rafman and Simon Denny, created a surreal atmosphere with recurring images of cars and gorillas, beginning with Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's installation of peanuts on drums.
Key facts
- The 13th Lyon Biennale was titled 'La vie moderne' (modern life)
- It ran from 10 September 2015 to 3 January 2016
- Curator Ralph Rugoff directed the exhibition
- 59 contemporary artists participated across two main venues
- Themes included celebrity, urbanism, ecology, and race
- Works referenced Baudelaire's 1863 essay 'The Painter of Modern Life'
- Rugoff previously curated 'The Painting of Modern Life' at London's Hayward Gallery in 2007
- The exhibition avoided historical modern art despite its title
Entities
Artists
- Ralph Rugoff
- Gerhard Richter
- Malcolm Morley
- Céleste Boursier-Mougenot
- Johannes Kahrs
- Magdi Mostafa
- Lai Chih-Sheng
- Cecilia Bengolea
- Jeremy Deller
- Cameron Jamie
- Alex da Corte
- Jon Rafman
- Simon Denny
- Sammy Baloji
- Charles Baudelaire
- Justin Bieber
- Amy Winehouse
- Kim Dotcom
- Jacqueline Kennedy
Institutions
- Lyon Biennale
- Hayward Gallery
- ArtReview
Locations
- Lyon
- France
- London
- United Kingdom
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Congo