Recently, Wang Chunchen, curator of the Chinese Pavilion of the 55th Venice Biennale and 7 artists: He Yunchang, Hu Yaolin, Miao Xiaochun, Shu Yong, Tong Hongsheng, Wang Qingsong, and Zhang Xiaotao successively reached Venice. With the opening date drawing near, the atmosphere becomes stronger and stronger, the work of the exhibition layout is also underway, security personnel and service facilities have begun to be gradually put in place. The 55th Venice Biennale will be held in Venice on June 1 through to November 24, and “Transfiguration – the Chinese Pavilion of the 55th Venice Biennale” will feature seven artists’ works at the Venice Virgin Garden and Armoury.

In addition, the catalog of Chinese Pavilion of the 55th Venice Biennale, entitled “Transfiguration – The Presence of Chinese Artistic Methods in Venice”, published by the Italian Maretti Editore, a total of 210 pages, all in English, highlights a collection of 5 articles and 2 interviews with curator Wang Chunchen, the draft of the design of the Chinese Pavilion, as well as the works. Maretti established in 1999, specializing in art, especially the publication of catalogs and books related to the Venice Biennale.

Curator Wang Chunchen shared the rate of advance and his attainment with us via his Weibo notes: “After removing oil tanks, I feel that the whole space is very open, because there is not any support material, artists must prepare the exhibition walls, display racks, and items for the building works, which increase the workload, while the space is open and transparent. On the other hand, the sense of vast space and history are revealed after removing the oil tanks, different from the white walls of the art museum. There is a strong feeling of the scene and history from the roofs to the walls, which makes sense. Seven artists’ works have arrived and they are busy with the exhibition layout.”

“Venice does not answer the question where the root of art is, instead, the digestion of many powerful arts; because it’s comfortable, it will receive the biggest number of visitors in all the cities that I have visited. It could be the all consuming object of everything, including art; but it’s clear that art does not take place in Venice, instead, in its origin.”

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO