Meredith Monk awarded Golden Lion at Biennale Musica 2025
On October 20, 2025, Meredith Monk, aged 82, was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the Biennale Musica held at Ca' Giustinian's Sala delle Colonne in Venice. Just two days earlier, she showcased her talents in a concert at Teatro Malibran alongside collaborators Katie Geissinger and Allison Sniffin. In her acceptance speech, Monk reminisced about her inaugural performance in Italy back in 1975 at the Biennale Teatro, which was directed by Luca Ronconi. Caterina Barbieri, the director of Biennale Musica, commended Monk's work for its emotional depth. The concert included her piece 'Gotham Lullaby,' composed in 1975, and Monk also unveiled the three-screen installation 'Songs of Ascension Shrine' at Biennale Architettura 2025, drawing inspiration from themes of ascension and Ann Hamilton's architectural designs.
Key facts
- Meredith Monk received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at Biennale Musica on October 20, 2025.
- The award ceremony was held at Ca' Giustinian's Sala delle Colonne in Venice.
- Monk performed a career-spanning concert at Teatro Malibran two nights before the ceremony.
- Her collaborators Katie Geissinger and Allison Sniffin joined her on stage.
- Monk recalled her 1975 performance 'Education of the Girl Child' at the Biennale Teatro directed by Luca Ronconi.
- Caterina Barbieri is the director of Biennale Musica.
- Monk's piece 'Gotham Lullaby' (1975) was later reinterpreted by Björk.
- The installation 'Songs of Ascension Shrine' was shown at Biennale Architettura 2025 in its Italian premiere.
- The installation was previously exhibited at the Hartwig Art Foundation in Amsterdam.
- Beatrix Ruf curated the retrospective at Hartwig Art Foundation.
- The installation is a three-screen video of 'Songs of Ascension,' inspired by Ann Hamilton's tower architecture.
Entities
Artists
- Meredith Monk
- Katie Geissinger
- Allison Sniffin
- Luca Ronconi
- Björk
- Ann Hamilton
- Beatrix Ruf
Institutions
- Biennale Musica
- Biennale Teatro
- Biennale Architettura
- Teatro Malibran
- Ca' Giustinian
- Hartwig Art Foundation
- Stedelijk Museum
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Giudecca
- Sala delle Colonne