Roberto Cuoghi's Imitazione di Cristo Shines at 2017 Venice Biennale
During the 57th Venice Biennale, under Christine Macel's direction and the theme Viva Arte Viva, Italian artist Roberto Cuoghi's work Imitazione di Cristo (2017) was a highlight in the Italian Pavilion, which Cecilia Alemani curated. This installation intricately combines elements of mythology, religion, and symbolism. The Golden Lion was awarded to the German Pavilion, curated by Suzanne Pfeiffer, for a performance featuring dobermans and glass enclosures. While the international exhibition at the Arsenale received some criticism, national pavilions thrived, with standout works like Tracey Moffatt's My Horizon (Australia) and Erwin Wurm's One Minute Sculptures (Austria). Significant collateral events included Marzia Migliora at Ca' Rezzonico and Douglas Gordon's Gente di Palermo at Palazzo Ducale.
Key facts
- 57th Venice Biennale, Viva Arte Viva, curated by Christine Macel
- Roberto Cuoghi's Imitazione di Cristo in Italian Pavilion curated by Cecilia Alemani
- German Pavilion won Golden Lion, Anne Imhof, curated by Suzanne Pfeiffer
- International exhibition at Arsenale criticized as didactic and flat
- National pavilions praised: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Portugal, Egypt, Romania, Greece, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland
- Collateral events: Marzia Migliora, Douglas Gordon, Shezad Dawood, Thomas Braida
- Other shows: Philip Guston at Gallerie dell'Accademia, Fondazione Prada exhibition
- Leo Steinberg's The Sexuality of Christ referenced
Entities
Artists
- Roberto Cuoghi
- Cecilia Alemani
- Anne Imhof
- Christine Macel
- Tracey Moffatt
- Erwin Wurm
- Cynthia Marcelle
- Geoffrey Farmer
- James Richards
- José Pedro Croft
- Moataz Nasr
- Greta Bratescu
- George Drivas
- Sharon Lockhart
- Candice Breitz
- Mohau Modisakeng
- Teresa Hubbard
- Alexander Birchler
- Carol Bove
- Marzia Migliora
- Douglas Gordon
- Shezad Dawood
- Thomas Braida
- Philip Guston
- Olafur Eliasson
- Kiki Smith
- Franz West
- John Latham
- Hajra Waheed
- Tibor Hajas
- Alberto Burri
- Piero Manzoni
- Matthias Grünewald
- Leo Steinberg
- Ludovico Pratesi
- Suzanne Pfeiffer
- Alfredo Cramerotti
- Caroline Corbetta
Institutions
- Biennale di Venezia
- Italian Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Australian Pavilion
- Austrian Pavilion
- Brazilian Pavilion
- Canadian Pavilion
- Portuguese Pavilion
- Egyptian Pavilion
- Romanian Pavilion
- Greek Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- South African Pavilion
- Swiss Pavilion
- Gallerie dell'Accademia
- Fondazione Prada
- Fondazione Querini Stampalia
- Ca' Rezzonico
- Palazzo Ducale
- Palazzina Canonica
- Fabbrica Fortuny
- Palazzo Nani Bernardo
- Chiesa di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
- Villa Heriot
- Direzione per l'Arte Contemporanea
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Corderie
- Padiglione Centrale
- San Giorgio
- Palermo
- Catacombe dei Cappuccini