Shubigi Rao Discusses Books and Underrepresented Voices Ahead of Venice Biennale
Shubigi Rao is set to showcase her project Pulp III at the Singapore pavilion during the 59th Venice Biennale, which will take place from 23 April to 27 November 2022 at the Arsenale’s Sale d’Armi. Partnering with curator Ute Meta Bauer, the initiative underscores the importance of archives and literature in our increasingly digital landscape. Rao advocates for the inclusion of varied perspectives in historical accounts, referencing the efforts of Sarajevo residents who preserved books in the 1990s. Her film, Talking Leaves (2022), features scenes from both Venice and Singapore. Rao considers her artistic identity to be rootless and believes that reading serves as a means to evoke experiences, emphasizing the enduring importance of books over digital alternatives.
Key facts
- Shubigi Rao is the artist for the Singapore pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale
- Pulp III runs from 23 April to 27 November 2022 at the Arsenale’s Sale d’Armi in Venice
- The project is a collaboration with curator Ute Meta Bauer
- Rao emphasizes books' role in broadening historical narratives and including underrepresented voices
- She cites the 1990s Sarajevo siege as an example of communities saving books from burning libraries
- Her film Talking Leaves (2022) uses footage from Venice and Singapore with interviewees found through field research
- Rao describes her artistic identity as rootless and liberating, influencing her non-genre-specific work
- She views reading as 'hallucinating time' and argues books are more robust than digital content despite fragility
Entities
Artists
- Shubigi Rao
- Ute Meta Bauer
- Tang Da Wu
- Zarina Muhammad
- Cecilia Alemani
Institutions
- Singapore pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- Arsenale’s Sale d’Armi
- ArtReview
- National Arts Council Singapore
- Singapore Pavilion
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Singapore
- Sarajevo
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Arsenale