Hany Armanious' The Golden Thread All I will say about Australia's pavillion this year is that I welcome the news that they are going to rebuild the pavillion, and that a new pavillion will be ready in 2015 assuming funding has been secured.
As for the exhibition itself, early buzz didn't so much surround Hany Armanious' The Golden Thread, but more the freebie tote bag that the artist had designed and that the pavillion gave away in droves.
Given that the bags have run out, I would think that the buzz has worn out...and the exhibit runs to November.
I liked John Kelly's take on the exhibition. The disappointment I felt may have partly been because I was really looking forward to seeing the Australian exhibit, that I was with Italian friends who were all interested in what is going on in the Australian art scene. I have to say, after a cursory look around the exhibition, they left with the impression that the art scene perhaps wasn't as interesting and challenging as I made it out to be. That's perhaps an unfair call, and maybe one made not entirely on the basis of the works on exhibit. The disappointment may have stemmed from the fact that the Australian pavillion is located in the vicinity of the American, German, French, Israeli and British pavillion...really, the business end of the event. Each offered well thought out exhibitions and performances that seemed to offer something new to the cannon. I found that the neighboring Canadian pavillion also struggled to offer something that could maintain the kind of enthusiasm one feels when they stumble upon something they find interesting or challenging. The business of fairs like the Biennale is harsh; with so much on offer, you want to be sure that you put up something that stands on its own, and is well suited to the context.
As for the exhibition itself, early buzz didn't so much surround Hany Armanious' The Golden Thread, but more the freebie tote bag that the artist had designed and that the pavillion gave away in droves.
Given that the bags have run out, I would think that the buzz has worn out...and the exhibit runs to November.
I liked John Kelly's take on the exhibition. The disappointment I felt may have partly been because I was really looking forward to seeing the Australian exhibit, that I was with Italian friends who were all interested in what is going on in the Australian art scene. I have to say, after a cursory look around the exhibition, they left with the impression that the art scene perhaps wasn't as interesting and challenging as I made it out to be. That's perhaps an unfair call, and maybe one made not entirely on the basis of the works on exhibit. The disappointment may have stemmed from the fact that the Australian pavillion is located in the vicinity of the American, German, French, Israeli and British pavillion...really, the business end of the event. Each offered well thought out exhibitions and performances that seemed to offer something new to the cannon. I found that the neighboring Canadian pavillion also struggled to offer something that could maintain the kind of enthusiasm one feels when they stumble upon something they find interesting or challenging. The business of fairs like the Biennale is harsh; with so much on offer, you want to be sure that you put up something that stands on its own, and is well suited to the context.
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