52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Thursday 7^th June – I Giardini: Illycaffe, Push Button House. I will always be grateful, and that is the reason why I write about Illy, fourth time sponsor to La Biennale, because I really appreciate a shot of caffeine, especially when I’m tired or running around all day. To greet you at the entrance of the Giardini is the Push Button House designed by artist-architect Adam Kalkin for Illycaffe. With the simple press of a button, the unit, a cube, transforms itself from compact container into a fully furnished and functional space, complete with W.C., opening like a flower. Quite wonderful and the coffee is not only good, but also free.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Wednesday 6^th June – Palazzetto Tito, Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa: Richard Hamilton “A Host of Angels”. The Richard Hamilton exhibition, A Host of Angels, until October 8^th, occupies the whole of Palazzetto Tito. Along with thirteen paintings there are pieces of furniture and objects that relate to the paintings. Opening the show are portraits of his friends Dieter Roth and Derek Jarman, further on, a graphic interpretation of a domestic scene of a naked lady vacuuming a sitting room called, Hotel du Rhone, 2003, which resembles his famous work, Just What is it that Makes Today’s Home so Different, so Appealing?, which is considered to be the first pop piece, because of it’s many references to pop culture and consumerism. Since the 1990s he has moved on from portraying pop icons to more intimate works, such as, the Angels series, exhibited in Venice, of friends, private situations and the interior of his own home. Shown above: Passage of the Angel to the Virgin, digital print on canvas, 2006-2007.

The star of the show. Richard Hamilton, also know as the "Granddaddy" of pop art, sits comfortably on the sofa and receives his guests. Hamilton was awarded the Golden Lion, when he represented Great Britain at the 1993 Venice Biennale.

Seen at the Richard Hamilton opening. Jos and Joe Tilson. Famous British pop artist Joe Tilson and his wife Jos came to support their long time friend Richard Hamilton.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Wednesday 6^th June – Island of San Lazzaro: Joseph kosuth “The Lanuage of Equilibrium”. What a wonderful sight, when you arrive by boat and see the writing lit in neon on the sides of the walls and the church of the monastic headquarters of the Mekhitarian Order on the Island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni. Joseph Kosuth’s installation entitled The Language of Equilibrium, until November 21^st, is amazing, Kosuth explains his project “This project in yellow neon, has as its basis language itself. It is a work which is both a reflection on its own construction, as well as, on the history and culture of its location. This work is comprised of words from Armenian, Italian and English language. Language here is used as a signifier of the history of the project of the Mekhitarian Order. Yellow neon is chosen for this work because of the symbolic understanding of yellow at the time of the founding of the monastery as meaning ‘virtue, intellect, esteem and majesty.”

Seen at the Joseph Kosuth opening. Installation curator, Adelina Von Furstenberg, center, talks to Art Press’s editor in chief, Myriam Salomon and Kosuth’s Parisian gallery owner Almine Rech-Picasso of Gallerie Almine Rech. At the invitation of Adeline Von Furstenberg, the founder of ART for The World, Joseph Kosuth with this mystical installation has intervened on different parts of the island. This is one of the best installations in the whole Biennale it is not to be missed, especially when it’s dark.

A view of the observatory wall. American aritist, Jospeh Kosuth is one of the pioneers of conceptual art and installation art. His work has consistently explored the production and role of language and meaning within art

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Wednesday 6^th June – Palazzo Malipiero: Patrick Mimran “New York Parkings”. Though French-born multidisciplinary artist, Patrick Mimran is better know for his billboards, placed strategically either in Chelsea, New York, or on the international art circuit. His photographic exhibition, at Palazzo Malipiero called, New York Parkings (until November 21^st), a series of gigantic entrances to many parking garages in New York, taken from the same prospective is really worth a visit. They are slick, colorful and make an impact.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Angela Missoni’s Party for Tracey Emin. Fashion designer, Angela Missoni is enjoying a quite moment with Venezuelan, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector Ella Cisneros. Cisneros is looking forward to seeing the Mexican Pavilion because “They are showing an artist I collect.” Angela Missoni hosted the party in honor of controversial British artist, Tracey Emin on board the Missoni barge Timoteo anchored on the Island of San Giorgio.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Angela Missoni’s Party for Tracey Emin. Film producer, Bradford Schlei, whose family owns the art Galleries in L.A. NY and Chicago was asking NBC’s anchor woman Felicia Taylor, how much she liked him.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Angela Missoni’s Party for Tracey Emin – The Photographers.
Artist photographer, pretty, Sandra Hamburg is working on an assignment for Vogue America during the Biennale.

One of the most influential fashion photographers, Jurgen Teller will be showing his work in the Ukrainian Pavilion with artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

New York Paparazzi, Patrick MucMullan is so famous that he can photograph sitting down as all the Vips come to him.

Rosita Missoni enjoys a chat and a hug with superstar Vip photographer,Mario Testino.

Fashion detail: Rosita Missoni’s Palladian inspired rings were designed by Paolo Portoghesi, circa 1961 and the eye necklace is by Salvador Dali. I also loved the way both Rosita and Angela Missoni mixed stripes with classic Missoni knits.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Angela Missoni’s Party for Tracey Emin. London based art consultant and exhibition organizer, Count Manfredi della Gherardesca is looking forward to seeing Francesco Vezzoli’s work in the Italian Pavilion, as well as, Mustafa Hulusi’s work at Palazzo Malipiero. Whilst, New York Gallerist, Edward Tyler Nahem, is looking forward to seeing the American Pavilion.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Angela Missoni’s Party for Tracey Emin. On board the Missoni barge Timoteo anchored on the Island of San Giorgio, Angela Missoni hosted a VIP party for British artist, Tracey Emin. International personalities from the art world, collectors, gallery owners, art critics, photographers and artists enjoyed the graceful Missoni hospitality. Angela is photographed with two bright young and attractive friends, Vice president of the Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin, Ginevra Elkann and Brazilian, Jan Olsen who organizes Superstar photographer, Mario Testino’s special projects. Ginevra is the younger sister of Lapo Elkann who was on Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed list and of Jaki Elkann, Fiat’s vice president

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

Tuesday 5^th June – Trattoria Antiche Carmapane. Just arrived in Venice and after a quick change, dinner in the out of the way distinguished Venetian Trattoria Antiche Carmapane. In walks Enzo Cucchi in Venice for his show at the Museo Correr (June 8th - October 11th). An avid smoker, he was more outside in the calle smoking than sitting at the table inside with Milanese art dealer Paolo Curti and friends.

Contessanally recommends: The grilled tuna with oranges and rucola and capers. It is amazing how well tuna works with orange.

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52nd Venice International Art Biennale

52nd Venice International Art Biennale.Back in Venice for the 52^nd International Art Biennale directed by Robert Storr, entitled Think with the Senses – Feel with the Mind – Art in the Present Tense.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Sequence 1. Painting and Sculptures in the Francois Pinault Collection Exhibiton. Very Hungry God, 2006 by Indian artist, Subodh Gupta sculpture, floats on the Grand Canal at the Entrance to Palazzo Grassi. This is one of Gupta’s most iconic works to date. The enormous skull made of a jumble of stainless steel pots, vessels, and cooking utensils, this momento mori, dazzles not only in its scale and shiny materiality, but also because it so successfully transforms such everyday wares into a monument to the transience of human life. It metaphorically comments on the conflicting cultural forces at play in his homeland: the artist’s penchant for accumulating “things” connotes the rapid acceleration of India’s economy, while the impoverished triviality of his domestic materials reflects the extreme deprivation of India’s lower classes. This work is both a meditation on our own mortality and an elegy for the rapid disappearance of “simple” agrarian lifestyles on the subcontinent.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at the Sequence 1 exhibition. Young Swiss artist, Urs Fisher enjoying a chat and a joke with Palazzo Grassi’s Francois Pinault.

Office Theme / Addiction / Mhh Camera, 2006 by Urs Fisher. Although not an official movement, the crafty connotations of “Pop Povera” perfectly fit the hand-crafted fabrication of young Swiss artist, Urs Fisher’s oeuvres – his work relies on traditional artistic techniques while avoiding the retrograde aspects such methods imply.

photograph by Manfredi Bellati

Jet Set Lady, 200-5 by Urs Fisher. When you enter Palazzo Grassi you are confronted with one of Urs Fisher’s most ambitious works to date. Jet Set Lady is a three-dimensional map of the artist’s mind in the form of a tree. An eleven meters tall, welded in iron, trunk supports a dense web of branches “abloom” with more than two thousand reproductions of Fisher’s drawings, prints and paintings from the past five years. “The idea came to me when my studio was full to the brim and the walls were entirely covered with drawings.” He explained.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. French intellectual, author, journalist and historian, Gonzague Saint Bris and Sandra Zita, Gemologist and former student of Art and Literature. Saint Bris is currently working on a book about famous Venetian love stories, from the Middle Ages until today; it will be out in October and entitled “Le Roman de Venise”. He lives in the family castle, Clos Luce d’Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. Director of the Berlin Contemporary Fine Arts gallery, Bruno Brunnet, “Thumbs up for this in depth group exhibition. It’s a fitting eye opener, and it has very good works of art in it, as well.” He said.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Nu Jaune et Calme, 1963 by Martial Raysse. Anticipating the work of his American Pop counterparts, French artist, Martial Raysse began his career making innovative paintings and sculptural assemblages inspired by advertising and consumer objects. Although one of the oldest oeuvres exhibited at Palazzo Grassi, this ensemble of Raysse’s early works perfectly resonates with that of his younger colleagues. In two of the galleries Raysse’s work is juxtaposed with paintings and sculptures by the young German artist Anselm Reyle. Although Reyle’s work is more abstract, he cites Raysse as a major inspiration – particularly the older artist’s early embrace with neon as an overtly”modern” signifier. In this transgenerational dialogue, Raysse’s 1960s works appear every bit as vital as Reyle’s objects from the past three years. A fitting tribute to a truly visionary artist.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. Camera lady, Bernadette Paassen and film maker Sonja Baeger are making a film about four artists from Berlin. They were following Anselm Reyle around Palazzo Grassi during the opening of the exhibition with their camera faithfully recording everything. Anselm Reyle works seek to resuscitate a whole repertoire of styles associated with high modernism. Whether using monochromatic fields of paint, gestural drips, highly lacquered colored bronze, neon tubing or florescent pigments, Reyle’s futuristic, post-punk sculptures and painting unabashedly embrace the legacy of formalism. There is a succinct overview of Reyle’s diverse artistic practices in the exhibition.

New Yellow, 2007 by Anselm Reyle. This fluorescent yellow wall was painted especially in the gallery for the Sequence 1 exhibition at Palazzo Grassi. “I have been painting the same yellow since I left art school. Only in the past I used to use it as a backdrop for my paintings. Today I like it plain only. I have always been interested in very strong colors.” Anselm Reyle explained.

photograph by Manfredi Bellati

Untitled, 2006 by Anselm Reyle. This sculptural installation consists of an accumulation of brightly colored neon tubes that are suspended in a room to resemble an abstract free-floating drawing. Reyle solicited local glass blowers, in Berlin, who graciously gave him hundred of left-over tubes from their workshops. From these scraps he has orchestrated a lyrical constellation of color that calls to mind the generic idea of an expressionistic scribble, drawn in the air.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. Talking on the phone overlooking the courtyard, New York gallery owner, Gavin Brown. “I very proud to represent three artists from my gallery in New York, that also have works of art in this exhibition here at Palazzo Grassi. They are, Urs Fisher, Laura Owens and Anselm Reyle.” he told me.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. Art director and graphic designer, Christoph Radl is responsible for all the graphics and the Sequence 1. Paintings and Sculpture in the Francois Pinault Collection exhibition catalogue. Sottsass trained, he was part of the original Memphis group of the late 1980s.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

photograph by Manfredi Bellati

Central Park West, 1990 by David Hammons. The found-object assemblages of David Hammons straddle numerous art-historical borders, combing sociological references and the poetic vision of urban life with the legacies of Dada, Arte Povera and Pop. Forever “Keeping it real,” Hammons always stresses the importance of street life as the inspiration for his work. Hammons lives and works in Brooklyn.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Seen at Sequence 1 Exhibition. American born artist, Frank West, lives and works in Vienna. He is one of the exhibition’s senior artists, he approaches sculpture in reaction to the Viennese Actionism and European post war abstraction. In addition to his “signature” papier-mache sculptures West is equally known for his furniture-pieces, which are intended to provide the public with a space to sit, contemplate, or simply lounge.

photograph courtesy Palazzo Grassi

Workingtable and Workbench, 2006 by Frank West. Frank West’s signature papier-mache sculptures are perched on bases, plinths or tables they marry anthropomorphic three-dimensional forms with colorful, gestural abstract painting.

Oasis, 2007 by Frank West. Especially conceived for Palazzo Grassi, this ensemble of seating sculptures, are positioned in one of the galleries over looking the Grand Canal. These interactive pieces, features furniture crafted from intricate lattice work and topped with air mattresses. The walls were especially painted by Tamuna Sirbiladze.

Seen at the Sequence 1 Exhibition. Georgian born Tamuna Sirbiladze lives between Vienna and Tbilisi. She was especially commissioned to paint this wall painting in the Oasis room facing the Grand Canal, transforming the white cube room into a more inviting space for visitors to linger.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Photograph by Manfredi Bellati

Flying Curve, Differential Manifold 2007 by Kristin Baker. Partly inspired by Duchamp’s last painting on canvas, Tu m’, (1918), New York artist, Kristin Baker created an abstract painting on transparent panels of plexiglas that are mounted on a free-standing, canti-levered armature measuring more than nine meters long. The work’s kaleidoscopic array of color and form not only evokes her fascination with the spectacle of race car speeding, but also creates an immersive sensory experience that transcends traditional painting. Her decision to paint on Plexiglas was motivated, she says by her desire ”To make the painting seem as if it was flying off the wall, so that it would go beyond the viewer’s peripheral vision in order to emphasize the experience of paint as well as evoke the feeling of speed.” Baker along with Milan based, Roberto Cuoghi are the youngest artists represented in the exhibition.

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VENICE - Palazzo Grassi

Sequence 1 Exhibition. At the official opening of the Sequence 1. Paintings and Scultpture in the Francois Pinault Collection, at Palazzo Grassi, until November 11^th, Francois Pinualt is showing Venice's mayor, Massimo Cacciari around the exhibition, they are accompanied by Alison M. Gingeras, the exhibition curator. M. Pinault and Mayor Cacciari, have a lot to celebrate, because Palazzo Grassi has just been granted the concession of the Punta della Dogana, the former customs warehouses, for thirty years. Restructured by Tadao Ando, this space will become a contemporary arts center, and will open in 2009. Gingeras explains the exhibition “The sixteen international and multi-generational artists selected for Sequence 1 are all resolute producers, while the practice of contemporary art has been irreversibly shaped by the twin legacies of the Duchampian ready-made and the Minimalist insistence on industrial fabrication the works in this show spotlight the presence of the artist’s ‘hand’, presenting a diverse range of artists who still rely on various expressions of ‘craft’ while expanding the traditional practices of painting and sculpture with twists and inventions.”

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Salone del Mobile 2007

BEST DESIGNER OF THE YEAR. The Elle Deco International Design Awards for Best Designer of the Year goes to Naoto Fukasawa. Understatement and minimalism mark the poetics of this designer, seen here with Italian Elle Décor’s editor in Chief, Livia Peraldo. Fukasawa, in recent years has put his name to some of the most important objects on the international scene.

photograph courtesy Driade

Naoto Fukasawa for Driade. Kioshi is a fiberglass pouf designed by Naotoa Fukasawa for Driade. In the shape of a stone (Ishi), it is light almost as a sculpture and comes in three colors, red, blue and white.

photograph courtesy B and B Italia

Naoto Fukasawa for B and B Italia. Full of poetry and spirituality the Vertigo containers designed by Naoto Fukasawa for B and B Italia.

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Salone del Mobile 2007

Seen at the Swarovski party. Hostess, Nadja Swarovski. British milliner and designer, Philip Tracey, whose recent project has been as design director of Monogram Hotel’s flagship property The G, in Ireland. Million dollar star designer, Marc Newson, who rumor has it, will soon be modeling a men’s clothes line. Target Living Ceo, Tara Bernerd and Wild Wild West’s Jo Simon.

Seen at the Swarovski party. Arne Quinze invites us inside his Dream Saver chandelier. Inspiration for the Dream Saver came from Quinze’s desire to revert the experience of looking at crystals from the outside and using them as a source of reflection. His aim is to use the emotional capacity of Swarovski crystals to absorb and release the energy and dreams of people. By doing so, the crystals “look” at the viewer and become a form of energy by turn.

Photograph courtesy Swarovski

Arne Quinze for Swarovski. This big and long tunnel of crystal is called Dream Saver and was designed by Arne Quinze for Swarovski. Shaped for speed and motion, when walking through Dream Saver, visitors experience the magic of crystals and at the same time feel the energy of the previous visitor. Inside there are six projections units and hanging from it are 5.5 km of crystals strands.

Seen at the Swarovski party. Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu, live between Mallorca and Paris. In Mallorca the artists manage the Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober Foundation housed in Alcudia. The main building of the property was designed by Hassan Fathy. It is the only example of work by this genial creator constructed on the principle of the Nubian mud brick buildings.

Photograph courtesy Swarovski

Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu for Swarovski. Titled Arana, the Spanish work for Spider, this chandelier was designed by Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu for Swarovski. “It symbolizes the myth of Arachne, as the creator who measures herself to power (the goddess Athena) and in the process is transformed into a spider for her temerity and condemned to weave eternally. We had already done a spider web in fiber optics in the nineties, called Website, so it was time to give a luminous body to its creator, Arana.” they explain.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. Swarovski designer and artist, Natasha Zupan chats with Phillips de Pury's Michaela Neumeister. Natasha, presented her Swarovski chandelier, called Arabacia Punctulata, last December during Art Basel/Miami Beach. The beautiful chandelier is in the shape of a sea urchin and was inspired by a fairy tale about a red Chinese lantern lit underwater.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. Internationally renowned milliner, Philip Treacy chats to his hostess Nadja Swarovski. Treacy has been working for years with Swarovski crystals for his hat collection. However, this is the first time he has designed a chandelier.

Photograph courtesy Swarovski

Philip Treacy for Swarovski. The organic nature of the cascading crystals of the Revolving Crystal Stalactite chandelier, designed by Philip Treacy for Swarovski, is a homage to the Great Stalactite he used to see in the Doolin Cave in Ireland.

Contessanally tip: click on the photographs to enlarge them.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. Glamourous, Dana Swarovski chats with Milan based Austrian banker, Hans Tiefenbacher.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. Tai and Rosita Missoni stand under their Aldebaran Zig Zag chandelier at the Swarovski party. The rows of crystal fringing similar to the Missoni’s fabric fringing are highlighted by the halogens lighting within the structure.

Missoni for Swarovski. The Aldebaran Zig Zag chandelier designed by Tai and Rosita Missoni for Swarovski. The zig zag symbol has always characterized a significant part of the Missoni’s graphic work. Alderbaran is the name of a star that has always fascinated them, a star loved by sailors to whom it brings good luck.

Luca Missoni for Trend. This is one of a series of gigantic, over the top, vases covered in stripes of colorful mosaics designed by Luca Missoni for Trend - Missoni Home. Rosita Missoni has chosen the tall Vases for the hall of the new Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. New York Based Iranian architect Gisue Hariri of Hariri and Hariri posses by her wall appliqués adapted from the Rock Crystal chandelier for Swarovski. The geometry of the design follows the geographical formations and the cutting of precious stones with very sharp edges, folds and different points.

Seen at the Swarovski Party. Royal fashion retailer, Sheikh Majed Al Sabah posses by his chandelier for Swarovski called Rock Royal. “Being a member of the Kuwait royal family and being in fashion, it was natural for me to design a chandelier with crowns and other icons from my life.” He explains.

Sheikh Majed Al Sabah + Stoique for Swarovski. Multiple rock star tiaras and crowns, as well as, peace signs “To show that we are peaceful.” Sheihk Majed Al Sabah stresses, make up the Rock Royal chandelier designed by Al Sabah together with Tomomi Nakajima from Stoique, Japan. “The dark grey color of the chandelier represents the color of oil.” He concludes.

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