BGL Transforms Canadian Pavilion into Immersive Convenience Store for 2015 Venice Biennale
At the 2015 Venice Biennale, the Canadian artist collective BGL, made up of Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère, and Nicolas Laverdière, showcases 'Canadassimo' by reimagining the national pavilion in the Giardini. Their installation expands the building's footprint almost twofold, featuring four immersive environments that begin with a replica of a Quebec dépanneur. This experience progresses into a private apartment, a disordered studio, and an outdoor balcony offering views of the Giardini. BGL's work seeks to merge art with physical spaces while exploring themes of global capitalism. Although this marks their inaugural Venice Biennale, they have previously shown their work at various international exhibitions. The National Gallery of Canada, under the direction of Marc Mayer, oversees Canada's participation.
Key facts
- BGL (Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère, Nicolas Laverdière) represents Canada at the 2015 Venice Biennale
- Installation 'Canadassimo' transforms the Canadian pavilion in the Giardini
- Work includes four spaces: convenience store, apartment, studio, and outdoor balcony
- Installation practically doubles the pavilion's surface area
- BGL describes their approach as systematically blurring space and object parameters
- This is BGL's first Venice Biennale participation
- Collective previously exhibited in Havana, Argentina, Montreal, and Quebec biennials
- Canada's participation overseen by National Gallery of Canada director Marc Mayer
Entities
Artists
- Jasmin Bilodeau
- Sébastien Giguère
- Nicolas Laverdière
- Marc Mayer
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Venice Biennale
- National Gallery of Canada
- Bienal de La Habana
- Bienal del fin del mundo
- Biennale de Montréal
- Manif d'art/Biennale de Québec
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Canada
- Quebec
- Cuba
- Argentina
- Montreal