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 …
As the first day of I Wanna Be With You Everywhere began, an excited nervousness filled the air as the anticipation for this precedent-setting gathering began. The festival—organized by Amalle Dublon, Jerron Herman, Carolyn Lazard, Park McArthur, Alice Sheppard and Constantina Zavitsanos in their collective voice—was “to focus on making a space where we could all be together while highlighting disability, art, and aesthetics.” As …
