Highlight #19: Biennale Preview

Biennales in Lyon, Moscow, Kobe and Istanbul

France, Lyon <BIENNALE DE LYON_LA VIE MODERNE>

10 September 2015 ~ 3 January 2016_Lyon

The 13th Biennale de Lyon investigates the contradictory character of contemporary culture with international artists from 28 nations. As the title suggests, the works examine modernity and what it means to live a modern life. To investigate these issues and concerns, the biennale first delves into history. Many of the featured artworks take a playful perspective into the past, addressing such elements as economy, national identity and technology.

This year’s biennale is organized by guest curator Ralph Rugoff, who invited artists with original ideas that surprise in their radical and distinct nature. As a result, more than half of the participating artists have been commissioned to make new works for the biennale, thoroughly capturing and presenting their vision of la vie moderne. While the show deals with matters relevant internationally, it also focuses on Lyon and France. The French artists at the biennale will explore social and cultural histories specific to Lyon and times critical to French society. Additionally, the biennale will feature works by amateur cultural producers, whose thought-provoking visuals will be displayed alongside works by established names. Join the Biennale de Lyon to learn more about modernism.

XIAO Guan <Rolling Beating>

2014 Courtesy de l'artiste et Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler Berlin ⓒ Hans-Georg Gaul
Avery Singer <Happening>

2014 ⓒ Joerg LOHSE
DELLER Jeremy <Joy In People>

2012 Courtesy de l'artiste et du Modern Institute_Toby Webster Ltd, Glasgow ⓒ Mark Blower

Russia, Moscow <MOSCOW BIENNALE OF CONTEMPORARY ART>

22 September ~ 1 October 2015_Pavilion No. 1 of VDNKh

Started in 2005 as one of the largest contemporary art events in Russia, the Moscow Biennale aims to provide an overview of the latest achievements in art and outlook on the state of the world. This year’s biennale opts for a radical format and will be condensed into a 10-day show.
The title of the 6th edition is “How to Gather? Acting in a Center in a City in the Heart of the Island of Eurasia” and is co-curated by Bart De Baere, Director of MuHKA, Antwerp; Defne Ayas, Director of the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam; and Nicolaus Schafhausen, Director of the Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna.

Each edition of the Moscow Biennale has organized special project programs to provide a comprehensive representation of the development of Russian and global contemporary art.
The central pavilion plays a key role as a site to embrace art and thought, and includes daily keynote speakers, in situ work, performances, and workshops with Russian and international artists. Participating artists this year will encounter such questions as: What are the fundamentals of a better life? What are the grounds on which to formulate a constituency? Who are we (people, city, nation, empire, etc.)? What will Moscow be like in the future? All of which primarily address the most urgent dilemma of our times: How can we live together? The biennale provides an opportunity to find the answer to these questions.

Anton Vidokle <This Is Cosmos>

2014 Film still Courtesy of the artist
Gabriel Lester <MurMure>

2014 Istallation Courtesy of Leo Xu Projects, Shanghai
Hanne Lippard <Reading for fans, Performative minute, KW>

2014 Photo by Joanna Szproch
Rana Hamadeh <Can You Make A Pet Of Him Like A Bird Or Put Him On A Leash For your Girls?>

2015 Sound play. Photo by Jacquelin Ross Courtesy of the artist and Western Front, Vancouver

Japan, Kobe <KOBE BIENNALE_ENCOUNTERS WITH ART IN THE PORT>

19 September ~ 23 November 2015_Meriken Park, Harborland and Motomachi-Kohkashita Area

KOBE Biennale 2015 promotes traditional ideas of art by implementing an enterprising spirit into a cultured city. It embraces cultural differences among countries and brings diversity to the table. The theme of this year’s biennale is suki, which means love in Japanese. Japanese culture is known for its hospitality, which has developed through a respect for one another’s beliefs and opinions, and a willingness to let others in. Based on this trait, the biennale invites artists and visitors from diverse backgrounds.

The biennale will take place across some of the most symbolic waterfront areas in the port city, including Meriken Park, Harborland and Motomachi-Kohkashit. To broaden the spectrum of featured artworks, the biennale additionally selected works competitively. Each competition inspired the creation of different genres and mediums of art. The result was the expansion of works to include paintings, comics and even innovative toys. The biennale and the city of Kobe is ready for visitors to come and enjoy the works.

Turkey, Istanbul <ISTANBUL BIENNIAL_SALTWATER: A THEORY OF THOUGHT FORMS>

5 September ~ 1 November 2015_Istanbul

The 14th Istanbul Biennial is open to the public, hosting over 80 participants from around the world, covering areas from Africa to Asia. The biennale explores both the ambiguity and uniqueness of saltwater as an element vital to our existence yet, at the same time, a corrosive material to the electronics that have become central to our daily lives. As the biennale will take place across the city in museums, hotels and school, ferries will be used to navigate and physically cross the thematic saltwater.

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts recommends dedicating at least three days to the biennale to view all the works. Visitors can take various routes to uncover the art, interacting with the works of international artists and collectives while taking in the historical sites of Turkey. For example, visitors can take a ferry to the Hotel Splendid Palas, one of the biennale venues and a structure that reflects the early 1900s Art Nouveau style. According to curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, “Saltwater helps to heal illnesses as well as calm the nerves.” Travel through the saltwater to rejuvenate at the Istanbul Biennial. ■ with ARTINPOST

Georgia Sagri <Many of me and suddenly>

2015 Pencil on paper 21×12.5cm
Georgia Sagri <Splitting in molecules can damage facial expressions>

2015 Pencil on paper 21×12.5cm