I had the chance to visit the 54th Venice Biennale in September 2011 during my artist residency in Italy. Â There are two main locations for the show along with numerous artists sprinkled throughout the city. Â In the Giardini, I found different pavilions that each contained an individual or group of artists that represented a different country. Â There is also a large central pavilion in the Giardini. Â The Arsenal was a larger building that contained exhibits from different artists from different countries around the room, each artist had enough space for their exhibit to stand alone, yet was close enough to complement or contrast the surrounding artists. Â There were also several countries represented in one wing of the Arsenal. Â I admit that my time was limited and I did not get to see many of the exhibits, however, I want to share some of the highlights of what I was able to take in. The art I saw ranged from photography, to video, to multimedia sculpture, to instillations, to records of performance art, poetry, sound, light, and a few paintings. Â It was a collective speaking through multiple ways of visual communication, sometimes enhanced with the sences of sound and touch. In the following weeks, I plan to post reflections on some of the highlights that I experienced.
About the show
ILLUMInations is the title of the 54th Venice Biennale.  The Biennale is a large conempoarary art exhibit composed of exhibits from artists from all over the world.  The title is poetic in itself expressing both concrete (illuminating poetry and exhibits, structure of exibit separated into nations) and figurative interpretations (wish to inspire different ways of thinking and looking at the world.) The exhibition runs from June 4 through November 27, 2011.  It is open 10am until 6pm on Tuesday through Sunday.  The admission fee was 20 euro (roughly $30).
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