James Gaston

Arsenale 1

Arsenale 3

Arsenale 2 7 Nov 2022 Arsenale 2 7 Nov 2022 Biennale, Venice --

I prefer the Arsenale to the Giardini as it's a more interesting yet less confusing space. The Giardini is a big white box whereas the Arsenale still looks like an arsenal. The Arsenale's main exhibition space is long, thin, and tall inside, all old brick and wood, very charming, very old Venice. It competes with the art perhaps, but maybe it enhances it.

The Giardini box is subdivided into a maze of white rooms and one leaves wondering if you've seen it all. The Arsenale is arranged as a series of exhibition halls so there are few decisions to make, you just hit one after another. The only decisions are small ones, whether to go into one of the black curtained doorways to see the occasional video.

The Arsenale's exhibit ends with a room of dirt (not that interesting) and then a room of Kudzu (ditto). From the latter you emerge into the sun where there is a canal and a covered boat dock and several country pavilions. And about now is the time you look for lunch.

Fountain of Exhaustion, Pavlo Makov, Ukraine

The fountain was intended to be a metaphor for the social and political exhaustion Makov witnessed as his country grappled with the civic and economic challenges of rebuilding an independent state. Constant water shortages in the city also inspired him to view the project from an ecological perspective as he ruminated on the idea that resources are finite. CNN

Fountain of Exhaustion, Pavlo Makov, Ukraine

The fountain was intended to be a metaphor for the social and political exhaustion Makov witnessed as his country grappled with the civic and economic challenges of rebuilding an independent state. Constant water shortages in the city also inspired him to view the project from an ecological perspective as he ruminated on the idea that resources are finite. CNN

Fountain of Exhaustion, Pavlo Makov, Ukraine

The fountain was intended to be a metaphor for the social and political exhaustion Makov witnessed as his country grappled with the civic and economic challenges of rebuilding an independent state. Constant water shortages in the city also inspired him to view the project from an ecological perspective as he ruminated on the idea that resources are finite. CNN

Arsenale art

Art from the Arsenale

A vaca, Jaider Esbell

Acrylic on canvas. 2017. Guide page 225.

A vaca, Jaider Esbell

Acrylic on canvas. 2017. Guide page 225.

A vaca, Jaider Esbell

Acrylic on canvas. 2017. Guide page 225.

Sculpture I and II, Aage Gaup

The black doorway leads to a video installation. Each video is shown in a pitch black room which may or may not be full of spectators but one cannot tell because it's black inside. The room has few if any seats. Oh, those seats are invariably also black. So you slooowly edge your way in as your eyes adjust, hoping you don't step on/bump anyone. Fun!?

Sculpture I and II, Aage Gaup

Spectators at the Arsenale