Thursday 10th–Sunday 13th September 2015
Having only seen the Gardini and Arsenale during visit to the Venice Bienale in the opening week, I decided to go again. This time I managed to cover the outside of the main menus but once again failed to see the American Pavilion. We did however enjoy excellent pizza, very reasonably priced fine white wine and a quieter city.
Iraq
Babak Kazemi – 8 Year Old Persian Pickle installation of rows of jars containing images of “pickled” Persian life 0n a white-painted pantry shelf. The form brings to mind work of Sri Lankan artist Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan and his collaborative installation Imag(in)ing ‘Home’ although the ideas behind the work are very different.
Raza Aramesh’s – Action 144: Friday April 25th, 2003 at 07:55, 2015 references a particular incident where prisoners’ clothes were burnt forcing them to parade entirely naked through the streets of Baghdad. A punishment meted out by the US army.
Angola
Délio Jasse’s Ausência Permanente like much of his work re-appropriates, re-locates and re-presents images through the lens which focuses on the ruins of the Portuguese Empire
My favourite piece was a video by Binelde Hyrcan entitled ‘Cambeck Voitures’. The inequalities of the world are enacted through the four children’s play and conversation which eloquently voices experiences of poverty and migration.
Jenny Holzer
Despite great intentions and eating in the adjoining café, we didn’t actually manage to make the show. Fantastic if you are going to see the palace but €18 to see 10 paintings … I’m not sure. Hope very much to see them in the UK.
San Servol
Home to Benedictine monks for over 500 years and later used as a place to care for the mentally ill, this must be one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the whole of Venice. San Servolo is only Conference Centre in Venice to offer accommodation. I am hoping that is is possible for mere mortals to stay on the island. My interest was to seethe Syrian and Cuban Pavillions, which are housed on the island and did not disappoint.
Cuba
Focus on concern with Cuba’s the new relationship with the USA and Capitalism, a graphic depiction of knowledge alongside a video shot in Kabul showing children playing with ‘the debris of war’.
Syria
The day went very quickly and the gallery was closing. Wide range of practice and concerns. I was most struck by the video BAA’L by Narine Ali which showed the destruction of antiquities in an museum .
Scotland+Venice
I was completely blown away by the video installation Graham Fagan’s Slave’s Lament. It made this second trip to Venice totally the right thing to do. I am so going to get the vinyl, which had sold out in Venice –Matts Gallery??
Shilpa Gupta & Rashid Rana
‘Your East is My West’ is the first time a Pakistan and Indian artist have shown together in Venice. There is a deep discomfort in the experience of the viewer being the viewed when you realise that what you imagine to be a video is others viewing you in real time. On top of this they can hear and interrogate you and you them! Being British we fled but there was a French couple who took great delight in the experience and probably spent the rest of the evening there.