This year’s theme for the 58th International Art Exhibition at this year’s Venice Biennale, “May you live in interesting times,” is oftentimes purported to be translated from a traditional Chinese curse—wherein a phrase that sounds like a blessing is actually said ironically. It makes sense that many artists involved in the show (curated by Ralph Rugoff) offered dark, bleak and downright strange works. Many pieces (films …
For the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, curator Ralph Rugoff selected only living artists—an uncommon move at events of this scale. His motivation for this decision is two-fold: it ensures lively and active discussion about contemporary art, and acts as a kind of antidote to the “alternative facts” that define the post-truth age. As such, this year’s theme, “May you live …
Profound and frightening questions are at the core of Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival, the main show at the XXII International Exhibition at La Triennale di Milano. A cultural event occurring every three years, La Triennale focuses on some of the most advanced international design, and the 2019 edition is organized into four sections: Broken Nature, The Nation of Plants, The Great Animal Orchestra …
