Cecilia Alemani's 59th Venice Biennale exhibition The Milk of Dreams balances revelation with illusion
The Milk of Dreams, the 59th Venice Biennale exhibition curated by Cecilia Alemani, showcases the work of 213 artists, with a mere 21 being men. Designed by Studio Formafantasma, the exhibition includes a dedicated space for Paula Rego in the Giardini. Mini surveys spotlight the contributions of Barbara Kruger, Rosemarie Trockel, and Cecilia Vicuña, whose 1976 artwork Leoparda de Ojitos resonates with surrealist Leonora Carrington. Among five historical micro-exhibitions is The Witch's Cradle, focusing on women surrealists. Works by Jana Euler and Ali Cherri draw inspiration from Assyrian Lamassu deities. Zheng Bo's 2022 video Le Sacre du printemps delves into interspecies eroticism, while Precious Okoyomon's garden installation incorporates kudzu plants. The exhibition, which examines themes of the Anthropocene, identity politics, and indigenous rights, opened with significant attendance during preview days.
Key facts
- The 59th Venice Biennale exhibition The Milk of Dreams is curated by Cecilia Alemani
- It features 213 artists, including only 21 men
- Studio Formafantasma designed the exhibition
- A room in the Giardini is dedicated to Paula Rego
- Mini surveys include Barbara Kruger, Rosemarie Trockel, and Cecilia Vicuña
- Cecilia Vicuña's painting Leoparda de Ojitos from 1976 is featured
- Leonora Carrington's book inspired the exhibition title
- Five historical micro-exhibitions include The Witch's Cradle on women surrealists
- Zheng Bo's 2022 video Le Sacre du printemps (Tandvärkstallen) is part of his Pteridophilia series
- Precious Okoyomon's 2022 garden installation To See the Earth Before the End of the World is in the Arsenale
- Theoretical frameworks from Donna Haraway and Ursula Le Guin are referenced
- The exhibition addresses the Anthropocene, identity politics, and indigenous rights
Entities
Artists
- Cecilia Alemani
- Paula Rego
- Barbara Kruger
- Rosemarie Trockel
- Cecilia Vicuña
- Leonora Carrington
- Jana Euler
- Ali Cherri
- Zheng Bo
- Precious Okoyomon
- Niki de Sant Phalle
- Gabriel Chaile
- Jessie Homer French
- Donna Haraway
- Ursula Le Guin
- Georges Perec
- Emily
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Studio Formafantasma
- Berlin Biennale
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Sweden
- US
- Japan
- India
- Palestine
- Ukraine
- Mojave Desert