2007 Venice Biennale: Robert Storr's Curatorial Vision and Off-Site Exhibitions
The 2007 Venice Biennale, held from June 10 to November 21, featured 77 national pavilions and 34 collateral events. Robert Storr curated the central exhibition 'Think with the Senses, Feel with the Mind' at the Arsenale and Giardini, aiming to restore the 'aura' of art. The exhibition was divided into two sections: one focused on contemporary conflicts (Iraq, Afghanistan) with works by Jenny Holzer, Emily Prince, and Emily Jacir; the other on abstract and conceptual art with Franz West, Tatiana Trouvé, and Lawrence Weiner. Notable artists included Jason Rhoades, El Anatsui, Francis Alÿs, and Dan Perjovschi. Storr's selection was criticized for being politically correct and for including the 'African Pavilion' funded by Sindika Dokolo, whose father was accused of embezzlement. Off-site highlights included François Pinault's 'Séquence 1' at Palazzo Grassi, featuring Richard Prince and Marlene Dumas; 'Artempo' at Palazzo Fortuny, curated by Axel Vervoordt and Jean-Hubert Martin, mixing contemporary art with historical objects; Thomas Demand at Fondazione Prada; Bill Viola's 'Ocean Without a Shore' at San Gallo Chapel; Richard Hamilton at Fondazione Bevilacqua; and Zaha Hadid's furniture at Madonna dell'Orto. The Biennale also saw controversies over the African Pavilion and the dominance of market-driven collections.
Key facts
- The 2007 Venice Biennale ran from June 10 to November 21, 2007.
- Robert Storr curated the central exhibition 'Think with the Senses, Feel with the Mind'.
- 77 national pavilions and 34 collateral events were part of the Biennale.
- The exhibition was split between the Arsenale and the Giardini central pavilion.
- Artists included Jason Rhoades, El Anatsui, Francis Alÿs, Dan Perjovschi, Jenny Holzer, Emily Prince, Emily Jacir, Franz West, and Tatiana Trouvé.
- The 'African Pavilion' was funded by Sindika Dokolo, whose father was accused of embezzling from the Bank of Kinshasa.
- François Pinault presented 'Séquence 1' at Palazzo Grassi, featuring Richard Prince, Franz West, and Marlene Dumas.
- 'Artempo' at Palazzo Fortuny, curated by Axel Vervoordt and Jean-Hubert Martin, mixed contemporary art with historical objects.
- Thomas Demand exhibited at Fondazione Prada on San Giorgio Maggiore.
- Bill Viola's 'Ocean Without a Shore' was shown at San Gallo Chapel.
- Richard Hamilton had his first solo exhibition in Italy at Fondazione Bevilacqua.
- Zaha Hadid presented a new series of furniture at Madonna dell'Orto.
Entities
Artists
- Robert Storr
- Jason Rhoades
- Luca Buvoli
- Tatiana Trouvé
- Franz West
- El Anatsui
- Francis Alÿs
- Dan Perjovschi
- Gerhard Richter
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Robert Ryman
- Susan Rothenberg
- Sigmar Polke
- Guillermo Kuitca
- Herbert Brandl
- Waltércio Caldas
- Tracey Emin
- Sophie Calle
- Raoul De Keyser
- Thomas Naskowski
- Martin Barré
- Vincent Corpet
- Riyas Komu
- Adel Abdessemed
- Jenny Holzer
- Emily Prince
- Emily Jacir
- Margaret Salmon
- Nedko Solakov
- Raphael Lamata
- Jaime Vallaure
- Philippe Parreno
- Rainer Ganahl
- Lawrence Weiner
- Aernout Mik
- Monika Sosnowska
- Ernesto Vila
- Mona Vatamanu
- Florin Tudor
- François Pinault
- Richard Prince
- Urs Fischer
- Marlene Dumas
- Martial Raysse
- David Hammons
- Mike Kelley
- Laura Owens
- Anselm Reyle
- Axel Vervoordt
- Jean-Hubert Martin
- Lucio Fontana
- Jean Dubuffet
- Kazuo Shiraga
- James Turrell
- Marina Abramović
- Mariano Fortuny
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Andy Warhol
- Man Ray
- Alberto Burri
- Thomas Demand
- Bill Viola
- Richard Hamilton
- Fra Angelico
- Jill Mercedes
- Ugo Rondinone
- Joseph Kosuth
- Jan Fabre
- Joseph Beuys
- Matthew Barney
- Zaha Hadid
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Arsenale
- Giardini
- Palazzo Grassi
- Palazzo Fortuny
- Fondazione Prada
- San Giorgio Maggiore
- San Gallo Chapel
- Fondazione Bevilacqua
- Madonna dell'Orto
- Guggenheim Foundation
- artpress
- Bank of Kinshasa
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Arsenale
- Giardini
- Palazzo Grassi
- Palazzo Fortuny
- San Giorgio Maggiore
- San Gallo Chapel
- Fondazione Bevilacqua
- Madonna dell'Orto
- San Stae
- San Lazzaro
- Palazzo Benzon
- Rome
- Niger
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Abu Ghraib
- Russia
- Bulgaria
- Poland
- Uruguay
- Romania
- Netherlands
- Austria
- England
- France
- Brazil
- India
- Mali
- Japan
Sources
- artpress —