The Grand Canal in Venice. Photo: Leah Sandals.
Canada promises to have a significant presence at this year’s Venice Biennale, which opened to the public on June 1.
Toronto’s Shary Boyle is being featured at the Canada Pavilion; Canadian-British artist Corin Sworn is exhibiting at the Scottish Pavilion; Newfoundland artists Will Gill and Peter Wilkins are exhibiting in a collateral event of the biennale titled “About Turn”; and Sobey Art Award winner Raphaëlle de Groot did a performance during the biennale’s preview days, May 28 to May 31.
Add to this Canadian Art‘s own summer issue launch May 30 at the Canada Pavilion and further Canadian events planned by various groups, and there has been a lot to keep track of.
To help Canadians at home stay abreast of all the happenings, Canadian Art, starting May 28, began posting live coverage from Venice of Canadian artists, curators and art lovers at the world’s most influential art event.
Starting May 28, we also began posting regularly on our Twitter stream, twitter.com/canartca, about Canadians in Venice during opening week.
Below, find our latest stories and background materials relating to Canada at the big event.
COVERAGE UPDATES
Standing on Guard for We: An Everyday Goalie in Venice
From BC to PEI, Montreal artist Chris Lloyd has donned goalie gear in witty Canada-proud performances. His latest stop? The Venice Biennale.
When Attitudes Return: A Legend Restaged in Venice
The show of the summer in Venice was from 1969—Harald Szeemann’s “When Attitudes Become Form” at the Prada Foundation. Jens Hoffman explains.
James Wilson Morrice: Venice at the Golden Hour
Canadian James Wilson Morrice first visited Venice in 1894. He began exhibiting Venetian work in 1902, and participated in the Biennale in 1903 and 1905.
The Mermaid’s Cave: Shary Boyle’s Path to the Venice Biennale
Shary Boyle’s route to Venice included a herniated disc, major schedule changes, and no small amount of risk. Find out more in this feature article by Murray Whyte.
Venice’s Encyclopedic Palace Sets Ambitious Curatorial Pace
Massimiliano Gioni has made impressive exhibitions in Berlin and New York. Now, his bravura approach to curating is on view at the Venice Biennale. Richard Rhodes reviews.
Slideshow: Canadian Art’s Summer Issue Launch In Venice
There were lots of Canadian artists and curators at the Venice Biennale’s preview week—and many of them were in attendance at our Summer issue launch in the Giardini.
Canadian Cinematographer Norayr Kasper Gets Venice Close-Up
What happens when a Canadian moviemaking expert decides to work with still life and sculpture? An answer is on view at the Venice Biennale.
Raphaëlle De Groot: An Artful Wanderer In Venice
There’s nothing pedestrian about the Venice Biennale, though Montreal artist Raphaëlle de Groot put a wry, rambler’s touch on the proceedings with a one-off performance that brought the spectacle of preview week down to street and canal level.
Shary Boyle Turns Up the Volume at the Venice Biennale
Boyle opened a much-anticipated show at the Canada Pavilion titled “Music for Silence.” Get a peek at the show, and its raucous evening celebration, in this on-the-ground report.
Newfoundland Artists Cruise Onto Venice’s Grand Canal
Newfoundland artists Peter Wilkins and Will Gill hit the Venice Biennale with the precedent-setting exhibition “About Turn.”
Corin Sworn Layers Family and Fragments in Venice
UK-born, Toronto-raised, Vancouver-trained artist Corin Sworn is one of three artists in “Scotland + Venice,” a collateral event of the Venice Biennale.
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
Artist Bio: Shary Boyle
This brief biography summarizes the training, awards and oeuvre of Toronto artist Shary Boyle, who is exhibiting at the Canada Pavilion, with links to recent coverage of her on our site.
Artist Bio: Corin Sworn
Background information on the career path thus far of British-Canadian artist Corin Sworn, who is exhibiting at the Scottish Pavilion. Includes links to recent reviews on our site.
Artist Bio: Will Gill
St. John’s artist Will Gill, who is showing with Peter Wilkins in a collateral event of the biennale, finds a lot of inspiration in his Newfoundland surroundings. This post covers his schooling, strategies and links to further coverage on our website.
Artist Bio: Raphaëlle de Groot
Montreal artist Raphaëlle de Groot won the $50,000 Sobey Art Award in 2012. Find out more about her practice, featured in an unofficial biennale event, in this post.
From the Archives: David Altmejd and the 2007 Venice Biennale
Montreal-trained, New York–based artist David Altmejd created one of the most well-received biennale exhibits Canada has produced in recent years. Find out more about it in this article from our Summer 2007 issue.
From the Archives: Rebecca Belmore at the 2005 Venice Biennale
Many regard the waters of Venice as a magical, romantic element. In 2005, First Nations artist Rebecca Belmore turned the tables on this image, transforming ocean waters into a bloody reminder of colonization’s violence in her Venice Biennale video installation. This article from our Summer 2005 issue covers her thoughts leading up to the event.
From the Archives: Cardiff and Miller at the 2001 Venice Biennale
In 2001, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller’s installation The Paradise Institute at the Venice Biennale was awarded one of the biennale’s special jury prizes. This feature from our Fall 2001 issue reflects on the work and its context.
From the Archives: Tom Dean Prepares for Venice in 1999
Toronto artist Tom Dean has a wide-ranging practice, and this diversity was on view in his 1999 Venice presentation. This article from our Summer 1999 issue addresses his preparations for the exhibition.
From the Archives: Rodney Graham Prepares for the 1997 Venice Biennale
Rodney Graham’s showing at the Canada Pavilion in 1997 helped put our nation firmly on the wider biennale map. This article from that summer’s issue explains the sometimes problematic lead-up to the exhibition.to Canada’s presence at the big show.
