The next edition of the most famous art appointment in Venice starts centralizing media’ s attention with the designation of the new curator Cecilia Alemani.
The 59th Venice Biennale gives us an appointment in May 2021 but the wait is already feverish for the upcoming featured works and the new Artistic Director’s curatorial approach.
Cecilia Alemani, Art Director of the 59th Venice Biennale
Cecilia Alemani, class 1977, is an Italian curator based in New York. Alemani has already distinguished considerably in the art world, collecting over the years important projects and collaborations. Currently, she is Director and Chief Curator of High Line Art. In particular, the project has the purpose of expanding the role of contemporary art in public spaces. High Line Art boasts collaborations with some of today’s most influential artists. To cite a few: El Anatsui, Carol Bove, John Baldessari, Phyllida Barlow, Faith Ringgold, Nari Ward, and Adrián Villar Rojas, Ed Ruscha, Sheila Hicks, Rashid Johnson, Barbara Kruger, and Zoe Leonard.
However, this is just an example of the accomplishments Alemani achieved. The Italian curator launched also the High Line Plinth. The program focuses on monumental art and shows off Simone Leigh’s sculpture “Brick House”.
This is the fifth time that the Venice Biennale picks a woman curator as Artistic Director. Besides, for the first time in many editions, the responsibility falls on an Italian woman. Alemani is actually not new at the Biennale. She curated the Italian Pavilion on the occasion of the 57th international art exhibition, in 2017. “The Magical World” featured large-scale artworks by Adelita Husni-Bey, Giorgio Andreotta Calò, and Roberto Cuoghi.
The Tate Modern and the MoMa also appear in Cecilia Alemani’s remarkable curriculum. She collaborated with these artistic institutions as an independent curator.
Venice Biennale 2021, Olympics of the art world
The next Venice Biennale will unfold in 2021 between May and November. The exhibition also called “the Olympics of the art world”, is one of the most prestigious events for contemporary art. With national pavilions hosted by individual nations, and independent exhibitions throughout Venice adding to the central exhibition.
About her new position as Artistic Director at the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale Cecilia Alemani said:
“It is a great honour to be able to take on this role in one of the most prestigious and recognised Italian institutions in the world. As the first Italian woman to hold this position, I understand and appreciate the responsibility and also the opportunity offered to me and I intend to give voice to artists to create unique projects that reflect their visions and our society.”
Although the list of artists who will participate in the exhibition will undergo continuous updates in the coming months, some countries have already announced their spearheads.
Marco Fusinato will represent Australia in the 59th Venice Biennale. This artist frequently integrates sounds in his artworks as a way to widen new forms of perception.
In the meanwhile, Iceland chose the artist Sigurður Guðjónsson. Lastly, New Zealand announced in September that Yuki Kihara was going to represent the country at the next Venetian international art exhibition.