Valencia's First Biennial: A Multidisciplinary Gamble

Valencia inaugurated its inaugural biennial, titled 'Communication between the arts,' which took place from June 13 to October 20, 2001, under the leadership of Luigi Settembrini. This event featured prominent figures from theater, architecture, and film, such as Robert Wilson, Santiago Calatrava, and Peter Greenaway, along with curators Viktor Misiano, Achille Bonito Oliva, and David Perez. Wilson oversaw 'Russian Madness' showcasing twelve Russian artists; Calatrava displayed sculptures at IVAM, while Greenaway co-curated 'El cuerpo del arte' with Bonito Oliva, which included installations involving forks, urine, and waste. Bonito Oliva also exhibited works by Yehudit Sasportas, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and others. David Perez's 'Lignes de fuites' aimed at young Valencian artists but did not resonate well. The biennial sought to rival Barcelona, which had faced criticism for its first triennial.