52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Sunday 10^th June – Palazzo Fortuny – Artempo. Artempo, this beautiful exhibition at Palazzo Fortuny, until October 7^th, investigates the relation between art and time bringing together different centuries and artistic languages. Ranging from rare and precious archaeological material to contemporary works of installation art, the over three hundred pieces in the exhibition come mainly from Axel Verwoordt’s eclectic collections, from Venice’s museums and other important public and private collections throughout the world. The artists represented number over eighty and including works by; Francis Bacon, Albert Burri, Loris Cecchini, Berlinde De Bruycke, El Anatsui, Lucio Fontana, Alberto Giacometti, Anish Kapoor, Pablo Picasso, James Turrell and Andy Warhol. A good example is the white room where an anonymous Buddha from thirteenth century China sits in front of Roman Opalka’s white paintings and “meditates”.

A detail. An anonymous ancient Dvaravati Buddha bust from Thailand stands next to Anish Kapoor’s S-Curve, 2006 sculpture.

Seen at the Artempo exhibition in Palazzo Fortuny. Eclectic artist, Laura Panno sits and chats with maestro sculptor, Arnaldo Pomodoro. One of Laura’s favorite artists in this Biennale is El Anatsui, whose tapestries, made recycled materials, hang outside the palazzo, as well as, in the Arsenale. Whereas, Pomodoro thinks Giuseppe Penone should win the Golden Lion prize, as he is truly worthy of it.