Yin Xiuzhen, China Pavilion
The Biennale was overwhelming to say the least. Lots of really strong work in the different international pavilions, mostly by young artists with promising careers ahead of them. Standouts were David Altmejd at the Canada Pavilion, Hyungkoo Lee at the South Korea Pavilion, the exhibition at the First Roma Pavilion, Sophie Calle at the French Pavilion, the Hong Kong Pavilion, the Chinese Pavilion, the Russian Pavilion and the two installations that made up the Scandinavian Pavilion.
David Altmejd, Canada Pavilion
There was no shortage of fresh energy in the international pavilions, but the main exhibition in the Arsenale and the Italian Pavilion were painfully dull by comparison. Curated by Robert Storr, former MoMA curator turned dean of the Yale School of Art, the two massive shows had a mausoleum feel, commemorating innovations long out of date and mostly serving to promote the curator's agenda over the advancement of contemporary ideas related to the art and culture of today.
Yang Fudong, Arsenale
I also visited Documenta 12 and Skulptur Projekte Munster this summer, and will eventually post those images. Stay tuned.
