52nd Venice Biennale starts today

The 52nd International Art Exhibition, entitled “Think with the Senses – Feel with the Mind. Art in the Present Tense”, opens today, on June 10th.

The international exhibition, set up in the Arsenale and in the Italian Pavilion at the Giardini, will present about a hundred artists from all over the world. Since 2006, the Arsenale has been the permanent seat of the new Italian Pavilion, making its debut this year with an exhibition curated by Ida Giannelli and representing one of the main novelties in the 52nd Exhibition. The British pavilion will host an exhibition by Tracey Emin entitled “Borrowed Light”.

In addition to the main exhibition are 34 so-called “collateral events” showcasing less well-known artists, this year including works by Welsh artists in “And so it goes: Artists from Wales” at the ex-Birerria Giudecca and works by Scottish artists in “Scotland and Venice 2007” at Palazzo Zenobio. An exhibition of works by Rom artists entitled “Paradiso Perduto – Il Primo Padiglione Rom” goes on show at Palazzo Pisani Santa Marina. Exhibitions that are not formally part of the Biennale also mushroom around the city, with homes, offices, churches and courtyards morphing into temporary art spaces.

Under the Venice Biennale umbrella, this year the city will also host international festivals of contemporary dance (14-30 June), theatre (18-29 July), film – in the form of the annual Venice Film Festival ¬– (28 August-8 September), and contemporary music (4-13 October).

Check out the exhibition program over at http://www.labiennale.org