Venice Biennale, June 4–November 27, 2011

This year, the Venice Biennale offers 82 international artists the opportunity to present their work. The artworks on display include works by Ahmed Basiony. The Egyptian was killed on January 28 in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during demonstrations. The Central Pavilion of the Arsenale and the Giardini provide the art with a perfect setting. Four artists have created the parapavilions in the pavilion for the artists.

The pavilions stand near the entrance to Giardini Park in the Castello district. Here, artists from 28 countries present their national art. Many other countries display their artworks in exhibitions scattered throughout Venice. The Venice Film Festival has also been part of the Venice Biennale since the 1930s. Theater, dance and music festivals, along with the Architecture Biennale, are all part of the Venice Biennale’s complete artistic experience.

The Venice Biennale has a long history. It dates back to 1893, when the Venice city council established an exhibition of Italian art. Every two years, the “Eposizione biennale artistica nazionale” was to present artworks by Italian artists. On April 30, 1895, the Italian royal couple opened the “Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte della Città di Venezia” (International Art Exhibition of Venice). No fewer than 224,000 visitors attended.

Visitor numbers increased with every exhibition. By 1910, the first international artworks were already being shown. Famous artists and legends such as Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Gustav Klimt and Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet had already exhibited important paintings here. Famous names such as Luis Trenker and Leni Riefenstahl appeared at the film festival. In 1976, works by Joseph Beuys were shown at the Biennale.

The following contributions are expected from Germany this year: Tom Tykwer will present his relationship comedy “Three” at the Biennale film festival. Quentin Tarantino is named as chief juror for 2011. The author, performance artist, director and talk-show host Christoph Maria Schlingensief, who died in the summer of 2010, was due to design the German pavilion at this year’s Biennale. As he was unable to complete this task, a tribute to the controversial artist will be presented at the Venice Biennale.

As at the film festival, “Golden Lions” are also awarded as prizes at the Venice Biennale art exhibition.