4-8 October 2019
We really look forward to heading back to Venice. Exploring the Biennale requires stamina, an open mind and determination... there is always so much to take in! This year, narrative driven installations and video pieces really overwhelmed us, in a good way! Plenty of time and a good pair of shoes are essential if you want to fully engage, and get under the skin of some of the more challenging and conceptually rich pieces. This is ART on an EPIC scale... and you need epic amounts of energy to keep up!
Open to the public from Saturday May 11th to Sunday November 24th 2019, at the Giardini and the Arsenale, this art experience is on an olympic scale and includes 79 participants from all over the world. This year it's curated by Ralph Rugoff and organised by La Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta.
Our trip went a little like this:
Thur 3rd Oct - Dave and I travel up to London late afternoon to stay with Carl and Annette in Greenwich. We enjoy a lovely meal and head up to bed before midnight...
Fri 4th Oct - Up and out early to catch our 9:05 flight from City airport to Venice Marco Polo. We arrive in good time and head to the water taxi departures to board our boat to Venice. Our host, Linda, meets us at Ospedale and we walk to our home for the next 4 nights. This is our second stay at the beautiful Ca' Ermina Garden property. Situated within walking distance of all the main sights, this oasis is perfect as a base to explore. A quick unpack and we are off out to grab Venice. We enjoy a drink and some snacks pre heading out later to eat at a local restaurant. Osteria Ai Do Pozzi is a real find! Recommended by our host, Fabio, this unassuming eatery is great for a casual night out. Lovely seafood and meat cooked to traditional Italian recipes, uncomplicated and very tasty.
Sat 5th Oct - A beautiful sunny day. First up, a leisurely walk to the fish market near Rialto Bridge. We are cooking in tonight and get fresh bass, squid and veg from the near by stalls. We head back via the supermarket to pick up bits for breakfast. Brunch is enjoyed outside in our private garden... bliss. We are ready to head to the Giardini to start our Biennale experience. So much art to enjoy... we spend a good 3 hours exploring. The Pavilion's are busy with art fans and we have a great time (Notable works listed below and some are shown in pics). In the eve we saunter back to the apartment via a quick drink stop to refresh and critique the day. A fab eve of cooking, eating and laughing follows.
Here are my faves from the Giardini:
Belgium: The crazzzy animated world of Mondo Cane. Brazil and the wonderful dance orientated piece that was Swinguerra. Canada with Isuma, their charming narrative driven film - one of the very few that we actually engaged with. Poland and Flight, the inside-out flying machine. Serbia and their lovely paintings and 3D pieces of Regaining Memory Loss.
Sun 6th Oct - A drizzly morning, so breakfast is inside today. We pack essentials and are soon off for part two of our adventure. We take a stroll towards the busy centre of the City before heading over to the Arsenale. This is always our favourite venue, and this year does not disappoint! Fabulous installations and highly creative pieces in this fantastic collection of renovated dock-side and industrial buildings. (Notable works are shown in pics). We round off the afternoon with a quick refreshment stop before heading back to the apartment to prep and enjoy another tasty home cooked meal.
Here are my fave artists from the Arsenale:
Alex Da Corte: His fabulous video works that formed Rubber Pencil Devil. Soham Gupta's Angst series - intimate photographic portraits celebrating the people who live in the shadows of Calcutta. Mari Katayama and her personal photographic images and hand made props that talk to her physical self.
Mon 7th Oct - Gorgeous sunshine greets us on our final full day in Venice. Today is all about getting to know districts of the city that we have not enjoyed before... and sampling some authentic Cicchetti in a few of the best rated smaller restaurants and bars. All Vedova is our first stop... a lil' glass of local vino and delicious bites in this authentic back street Venetian restaurant... beautiful. We also do a couple of the more decorative Churches. Basilica Sant Giovanni e Paolo and Basilica Dei Frari are both certainly worth a visit! More snacks, now we relax for a bit longer and enjoy the gorgeous canal side location of Paradiso Perduto. With full tummies we are ready for more art! We explore the interesting collection of work at Palazzo Michiel, the European Culture Centre of Italy. Then continue walking for another hour or so, taking in the sights and sounds... A quick drink at Caffe Rosso is required before heading to an old fave of ours, Osteria al Squero, opposite the picturesque gondola yard. Phew, what a fantastic day. We have a lovely night at our base - and Fabio, Linda and Mum come over to see us, such a nice gesture!
Tue 8th Oct - Our final morning in Venice, a quick tidy up and we are offt... up to Ospedale to catch a boat back to Marco Polo. A slightly choppy ride across the lagoon and we are soon aboard our 11:30 flight to Gatwick. Dave and I eventually make it onto the 15:45 red jet to Cowes. It's been such an amazing few days with Carl and Annette, happy times indeed! - Bring on India!!!
10 out of 10
