The Venice Biennale 2024

With massive destruction, and a huge displacement of people continuing around the globe, within Meloni’s Italy, this year’s provocatively entitled  Stranieri Ovunque (Foreigners Everywhere) at the Venice Biennale was always going to be politically charged. 

What started as an anniversary present to King Umberto in 1895, the The Venice Biennale has been attracting artists with their passions, benefactors with their money, and politics from around the world ever since.  This year, 88 countries are represented in the collective exhibition spaces as well as in the national pavilions in what has become the ‘Olympics of the art world’. But you can’t keep politics or big bucks away from either art of sport, and like it’s eponym, the Venice art show has also faced controversy and criticism throughout the years. 

The Biennale first became politicised by the fascist government in the 1930’s, and Mussolini’s personal propaganda machine with art explicitly showing military dominance. In the 60’s, it became a symbol of political and cultural unrest, with protestors occupying the pavilions and turning the art to face the wall. In 1974, the exhibition “antifascist”was a direct response to Pinochet’s military coup in Chile, and in 1977, the ‘Biennale of Dissent’ showcased artists from the Soviet Union who were not sanctioned by the state. In 1993, German artist Hans Haacke smashed the stone floor of his country’s pavilion where Hitler had stood in 1934. 

Fortunately, the artist had better decision making skills and the pavilion remains closed. 

With the emphasise on migration and marginalised communities, art by indigenous artists is everywhere, and it’s no coincidence that most of the major European players have chosen representatives that inextricably link them back to an often ugly past.

Peruvian born Sandra Gamarra Heshiki representing Spain this year, reminds us that most of our churches and museums have been formed from plunder, privilege, and violence. An uncomfortable premise delivered via the medium of clever paintings and a beautiful polyptych which hilights notions of accumulation and ostentation. In the Italian pavillion, Massimo Bartolini’ adopts a more self reflective approach and asks us ‘To Hear’.

Indigenous artist Jeffrey Gibson gives us a colourful  eyeful of textiles in the US Pavilion and a juxtaposition of traditional native dance with modern DJ music in a catchy, visually delightful foot tapping videoscape.

Brazil reclaimed it’s ancient name and changed it’s pavilion to Hãhãwpuá, and gave a voice to it’s 300 indigenous people’s. A television perched on top of a mound of earth transmits a chilling reminder that we are burning what the earth took thousands of years to create and releasing it into the environment, with a warning ‘you are on the path to creating your own extinction’. 

A welcome reprieve from Martinican artist Julien Creuzet, who has created one of the most beautiful experiences in the French pavilion with an installation that features a calming underwater utopia and hanging sculptures that make you feel like you’re walking through an enchanted space.  

Next door the water theme continues in the British pavilion, with Ghanaian born John Akomfrah’s Listening All Night To the Rain, with bodies of water as the central motif.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sent a powerful message this year with artist Manal AlDowayan’s focus on the evolving role of women in Saudi Arabia and their journey to reshape the narratives that have historically defined them.

In Shifting Sands: A Battle Song, visitors are invited to wind their way through a maze of large-scale, printed silk, petal- like sculptural elements that take their forms from the “desert rose”, a crystal commonly found in Saudi Arabia’s desert sands. The surface of these sculptures is silkscreened with texts written about Saudi women, which have had a profound impact on their perception and self-representation.

Vocabulary

Provocatively

• Synonyms: Incitingly, controversially, tantalizingly
• Example Sentence: The artist’s provocatively designed exhibit stirred heated debates among the visitors.
• More Sentences:
  • The speaker addressed the audience provocatively, challenging their preconceived notions and sparking intense discussion.
  • The filmmaker crafted the scene provocatively, ensuring it would be the most talked-about moment of the film.

Politicised

• Synonyms: Politically charged, radicalized, factionalized
• Example Sentence: The art show was heavily politicised, reflecting the current political turmoil in the country.
• More Sentences:
  • The charity event became politicised when activists used it as a platform to voice their demands.
  • The environmental campaign was quickly politicised, drawing in supporters and detractors from across the political spectrum.

Eponym

• Synonyms: Namesake, title-bearer, titular
• Example Sentence: The Venice Biennale, often called the ‘Olympics of the art world’, shares its eponym with the famous international sporting event.
• More Sentences:
  • The Ford Mustang, an eponym for its brand, became a symbol of American automotive innovation.
  • The Pulitzer Prize, an eponym of its founder Joseph Pulitzer, honors excellence in journalism and the arts.

Controversy

• Synonyms: Dispute, debate, contention
• Example Sentence: The exhibition sparked controversy due to its politically charged themes and provocative artworks.
• More Sentences:
  • The new policy caused controversy among the citizens, with protests erupting in several cities.
  • The decision to close the historic park generated significant controversy and community backlash.

Cynical

• Synonyms: Skeptical, distrustful, pessimistic
• Example Sentence: Many viewers took a cynical view of the exhibition, suspecting ulterior motives behind the artistic displays.
• More Sentences:
  • His cynical outlook made him question the true motives behind the charity gala.
  • The journalist’s cynical article criticized the government’s handling of the crisis.

Emphasise

• Synonyms: Highlight, stress, underscore
• Example Sentence: The curators emphasise the theme of migration and marginalized communities in this year’s Biennale.
• More Sentences:
  • The teacher made sure to emphasise the importance of critical thinking in her lessons.
  • In his speech, the CEO emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Inextricably

• Synonyms: Indivisibly, inseparably, ineluctably
• Example Sentence: The history of colonialism is inextricably linked to the art and culture of many European countries.
• More Sentences:
  • The destinies of the two families were inextricably intertwined through decades of friendship and rivalry.
  • The success of the project is inextricably linked to the dedication and cooperation of the entire team.

Ostentation

• Synonyms: Showiness, pretentiousness, flamboyance
• Example Sentence: The artist’s work critiques the ostentation of wealth and power through its intricate details and luxurious materials.
• More Sentences:
  • The mansion’s grandiose design was a clear display of ostentation, meant to impress visitors.
  • Her jewelry collection, though beautiful, was often criticized for its ostentation and extravagance.

Juxtaposition

• Synonyms: Contrast, comparison, adjacency
• Example Sentence: The juxtaposition of traditional dance and modern music in the installation created a compelling dialogue between past and present.
• More Sentences:
  • The artist’s work featured a striking juxtaposition of vibrant colors against a dark background.
  • The novel explores the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty in a rapidly changing society.

Utopia

• Synonyms: Paradise, ideal, dreamland
• Example Sentence: The installation created an underwater utopia, offering visitors a serene escape from the real world.
• More Sentences:
  • The architect’s design aimed to create a modern utopia, where technology and nature coexist harmoniously.
  • The community garden was seen as a small utopia amidst the bustling urban landscape, offering peace and greenery.