La Biennale 2019: May You Live In Interesting Times

Open to the public from Saturday May 11th to Sunday November 24th 2019, at the Giardini and the Arsenale, the 58th International Art Exhibition, titled May You Live In Interesting Times, will be curated by Ralph Rugoff and organized by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta. The pre-opening will take place on May 8th, 9th and 10th, the awards ceremony and inauguration will be held on Saturday May 11th 2019.

“Twenty years have passed since, in this same location, I presented my first Exhibition – President Paolo Baratta said – after the Biennale underwent major reform in 1998. Let me tell you, they have been very interesting times.

Ralph Rugoff has declared: «May You Live in Interesting Times will no doubt include artworks that reflect upon precarious aspects of existence today, including different threats to key traditions, institutions and relationships of the “post-war order.” But let us acknowledge at the outset that art does not exercise its forces in the domain of politics. Art cannot stem the rise of nationalist movements and authoritarian governments in different parts of the world, for instance, nor can it alleviate the tragic fate of displaced peoples across the globe (whose numbers now represent almost one percent of the world’s entire population).»

The Exhibition will develop from the Central Pavilion (Giardini) to the Arsenale, and will include 79 artists from all over the world.

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