Norway's representation at the 54th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, will consist of two programmes, running consecutively throughout 2011: 'The State of Things', a series of lectures by internationally renowned intellectuals in various cultural and academic institutions in Venice, and 'Beyond Death: Viral Discontents and Contemporary Notions about AIDS', a teaching programme by artist Bjarne Melgaard at Università Iuav di Venezia.
In 2009, Norwegian artists participate within the frame of the 53rd International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia on two parallel levels.
The Nordic and Danish Pavilions
Within the national pavilion structure, located at the Giardini, Venice, the artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset curate an international exhibition within the Nordic and Danish pavilion that includes the Norwegian artists Thora Dolven Balke, Vibeke Slyngstad and the Norwegian design trio Norway Says. The project was initiated by the Office for Contemporary Art Norway, the hosting organization for the Nordic Pavilion in 2009, and the Danish Arts Council's Committee for International Visual Arts, commissioners of their respective pavilions.
'Fare Mondi/Making Worlds': The Main exhibition of the 53rd Biennale di Venezia
Daniel Birnbaum, Curator for the 53rd International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, has selected Zambian born, Norwegian resident artist Anawana Haloba to participate in the main exhibition 'Fare Mondi/Making Worlds'. Further news about this exhibition will be announced in the Venice Biennale press forum to be held in Rome on Monday, 23 March 2009. For further information on the 53rd International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, please visit the biennial's website.
The Nordic Pavilion exhibition in 2007, under the title Welfare - Fare Well, was curated by Renè Block, the director of Kunsthalle Fridericianum in Kassel (1998-2006) and internationally acclaimed artistic director of several international exhibitions and biennials. The exhibition included projects by Adel Abidin (Finland), Jacob Dahlgren (Sweden), Toril Goksøyr and Camilla Martens (Norway), Lars Ramberg (Norway), Sirous Namazi (Sweden), and Maaria Wirkkala (Finland).
