Venice Design Biennial 2021 Explores Design as Self-Portrait

The third edition of the Venice Design Biennial, curated by Luca Berta and Francesca Giubilei, runs from May 20 to June 27, 2021, across multiple venues in Venice, coinciding with the first month of the Venice Architecture Biennale. The main exhibition, 'Design As Self-Portrait,' is split between SPARC – Spazio Arte Contemporanea in Campo Santo Stefano and Spuma – Space of the Arts in a former Dreher brewery on Giudecca, featuring works by 20 international designers who explore self-representation through collectible design. Satellite exhibitions include 'Past Forward. Designers from the Land of Venice' at the Museo Archeologico in Piazza San Marco, where 16 designers from the Venetian region dialogue with classical statues, and 'Pretziada. A Self-Portrait in Design' at the Oratorio dei Crociferi, highlighting Sardinian material culture through collaborations between artisans and designers. A performance piece, 'Walking on Water' by British designer Jo Cope, and a digital editorial project, 'Hybrid Venice,' complete the program. Curators note a shift among emerging designers away from minimalism toward hypertrophy and organic forms, with an acceptance of imperfection. Notable emerging participants include Belgian duo Touche-Touche, Audrey Large, and Tadeas Podracky, who created two mirrors with wood and resin branches in collaboration with local artisans.