What to see in Venice

“Make art not war” says a poster with blue capital letters that hangs from a wall in my house. It is to be sent to Bice Curiger, the curator of the Venice Biennial 2011, who asks: “If art were a country, what would its constitution state?” This year the 83 invited artists to the International Exhibition of Art in Venice exhibit under the title ILLUMinations and demonstrate why this event is “one of the most important forums for knowledge and illumination of the new developments in international art”, says Curiger. From June the 4^th until November the 27^th, art, architecture, cinema, dance, music and theater will inundate the city of canals.

Every two years, the cats that come to the public park Giardini in Venice have to share their territory. Besides the Arsenal and other places in the city, this space is transformed into an exhibition stage to install new national pavilions, in addition to the 29 permanent ones. The 54^th edition welcomes new countries like Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Haiti and Andorra. Other countries will participate again after many years of absence, such as India, Cuba, South Africa, Costa Rica, Iraq or Zimbabwe. If art were a country, its constitution would value the gender equality: this year 32 women will participate. And that country called Art would have as a motto “Youth is future”: 32 young artists, born after the year 1975, will participate in this edition as well. The program also highlights the organization of 37 events. Nothing will be missing to be illuminated.

Imitating Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the last crusade”, the lovers of the Seventh Art usually take pictures of themselves in front of the church that appears in the movie, located in Campo San Barnaba. It is even better to enjoy the 68^th edition of the Venice International Film Festival, which takes place from August the 31^st to September the 10^th in Lido, an island located 10 minutes from the city by vaporetto. As Cannes’, Berlin’s or San Sebastian’s, the Venice Film Festival is one of the most prestigious in the world. Every year it awards the best film production with the Golden Lion, won in 2010 by Sofia Coppola for her drama “Somewhere”.

The Venice Biennial is also about dance. The Arsenale della Danza or International Contemporary Dance Festival (from May the 11^th to June the 25^th) is the perfect opportunity to discover the most innovative works of current choreographers. The artistic menu is complete: you will be able to choose between the International Architecture Exhibition, the Contemporary Music Festival and the Theater Festival program organized by the Catalan artist Alex Rigola. Since 1895 the gondolas, St Mark’s Square or the charming narrow streets of Venice have remained in the background during several months. Instead, the workshops, performances, pavilions, bookshops and awards have made the city a destiny where innovation prevails.

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All in all, this is an ideal event to make a tour for the Venice landmarks and discover every facet of the international artistic production. Rent apartments in Venice and enjoy a unique stay!

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Translated by: Hans
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Apart from Film Festival in Cannes, the International Film Festival in Venice (Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica) is one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Not only that but it is the world’s oldest film festival. It was founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 and it takes place every year in late August/early September on the Island of Lido. The 67th edition of the festival will take place from the 1st until the 11th of September this year.

Also important to mention is that its part of the Venice Biennale, a major exhibition and festival for contemporary art The main awards given out are the Golden Lion (Leone d’Oro) for the best film and the Volpi Cup (Coppa Volpi) for the best actor and actress. This year American director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglorious Basterds) will chair the International Jury for the main competition.

When we think about the film industry, many think “Hollywood” and images of blockbuster hits, the Walk of Fame, the Oscars, mansions of famous movie stars in the Hollywood Hills come to mind. Los Angeles may be where many of today’s major movie companies have their studios and film making has its origin in Venice Beach, California. But the industry is so much more than this! Some of the amazing films which have been awarded prizes at the Venice International Filmfestival include The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky, Monsoon Wedding by Mira Nair or Hana-bi by Takeshi Kitano: unlike the Oscars, this festival looks to award quality films from around the world, not just blockbusters.

The historic Palazzo del Cinema is the main facility and screening theatre of the Venice Film Festival. To catch a glimpse of the action hop onto a vaporetto to Lido and for a comfortable stay rent Apartments in Venice.

http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema