Florence Biennale 2023 Opens with Over 600 Artists, Special Projects on Iran and Ukraine

The 14th Florence Biennale commenced on October 14, 2023, at Fortezza da Basso and will continue until October 22. This year’s event showcases over 600 artists from 82 nations, with Italy (105), China (71), the USA (50), and Argentina (42) having the highest representation. Notably, Kenya, Seychelles, and Uzbekistan are participating for the first time. The theme, 'I Am You: Individual and Collective Identities in Contemporary Art and Design,' features 1,500 artworks spread over 11,000 square meters. Director General Jacopo Celona mentioned that artists from the Middle East are unable to attend due to the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict. Awards include the Premio Lorenzo il Magnifico for David LaChapelle and Premio Leonardo da Vinci for Santiago Calatrava, with special projects honoring Mahsa Amini and Ukrainian artists. Three performances took place on the opening day. The biennale was established by Pasquale and Piero Celona.