James Gaston

5 Nov - Something for everyone

Biennale day 3 - 7 Nov

Biennale day 2
6 Nov 2019 Biennale day 2 6 Nov 2019 Biennale, Venice, Italy

We're back to the Biennale for more painting/sculpture/video/sound/sensory fun.

Trojan, Yin Xiuzhen, PRC

The piece represents a plane passenger preparing for a crash landing, a work made of wood and fabric. You can also crawl inside to experience an anxiety-provoking claustrophobic space. The artist is reflecting on airplanes and our incessant need for speed and growth.

Trojan, Yin Xiuzhen, PRC

"Faniswa, Seapoint", Zanele Muholi, South Africa

Wall of shoes, India

Redacted, Hegemony museum, Chile

An interesting exhibit that looks at colonialism. A highlight is a gorgeous video taken high in the Andes featuring Chilean ranchers, and it is accompanied by the ear-pleasing score The emancipating opera. One of my faves.

Redacted, Hegemony museum, Chile

Ramp covered with water-soaked notebooks, Luxembourg

The Mediterranean as a place of real-life adventure and tragedy, and as an imaginary space. This ramp is covered with notebooks that have been soaked in the Mediterranean then dried.

Ramp covered with water-soaked notebooks, Luxembourg

The Mediterranean as a place of real-life adventure and tragedy, and as an imaginary space. This ramp is covered with notebooks that have been soaked in the Mediterranean then dried.

Ramp covered with water-soaked notebooks, Luxembourg

The Mediterranean as a place of real-life adventure and tragedy, and as an imaginary space. This ramp is covered with notebooks that have been soaked in the Mediterranean then dried.

Video how to soak notebook in the sea, Luxembourg

Video of making a sandwich

Sandwiches, of normal and not-so-normal ingredients (like body parts), are constructed then deconstructed in this fun film.

Video of making a sandwich

Sandwiches, of normal and not-so-normal ingredients (like body parts), are constructed then deconstructed in this fun film.

Video of making a sandwich

Sandwiches, of normal and not-so-normal ingredients (like body parts), are constructed then deconstructed in this fun film.

data-verse 1, film by Ryoji Ikeda, Japan

I watched this film twice. Mesmerizing.

data-verse 1, film by Ryoji Ikeda, Japan

I watched this film twice. Mesmerizing.

data-verse 1, film by Ryoji Ikeda, Japan

I watched this film twice. Mesmerizing.

Copper doorway, Italy pavilion

Unfortunately the door was the best part of the Italy exhibit.

Copper doorway, Italy pavilion

Unfortunately the door was the best part of the Italy exhibit.

Copper doorway, Italy pavilion

Unfortunately the door was the best part of the Italy exhibit.

White chair with air tube, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, PRC

The chair sits inert and a crowd gathers, waiting. Every so often the tranquility of the chair is suddenly interrupted by a surge of highly pressurized air released through the black rubber hose which causes the hose to jerk violently. The black rubber hose bangs on the plexiglass enclosure. The sound of the escaping air and the banging of the hose fill the exhibit space. Does this make sense? No. Does it draw an audience waiting for the next release? Yes. Is this art? Of course.

White chair with air tube, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, PRC

Cubes, Ad Minoliti, Argentina

"Metal objects over water" by Tomas Saraceno, Argentina

The Spin, Tarek Atoui, France

Seven women in a row, Peru pavilion

48 War Movies, Christian Marclay, US

48 films about war, laid one on top of each other and playing simultaneously,

48 War Movies, Christian Marclay, US

48 films about war, laid one on top of each other and playing simultaneously,

48 War Movies, Christian Marclay, US

48 films about war, laid one on top of each other and playing simultaneously,

Written on fog, Jitish Kallat, India

Letter from Gandhi to Hitler, written in 1939, appealing for peace. Projected onto a stream of fog which observers must walk through to exit the work.

Written on fog, Jitish Kallat, India

Letter from Gandhi to Hitler, written in 1939, appealing for peace. Projected onto a stream of fog which observers must walk through to exit the work.

Written on fog, Jitish Kallat, India

Letter from Gandhi to Hitler, written in 1939, appealing for peace. Projected onto a stream of fog which observers must walk through to exit the work.

Barca Nostra, Christoph Buchel, Italy

A group of students—there were many at the Biennale—walking past a work by Christoph Buchel. It's a ship that was wrecked in 2015. The ship is "a monument to contemporary migration."

Barca Nostra, Christoph Buchel, Italy

A group of students—there were many at the Biennale—walking past a work by Christoph Buchel. It's a ship that was wrecked in 2015. The ship is "a monument to contemporary migration."

Barca Nostra, Christoph Buchel, Italy

A group of students—there were many at the Biennale—walking past a work by Christoph Buchel. It's a ship that was wrecked in 2015. The ship is "a monument to contemporary migration."

Woman servicing plastic people, Martine Gutierrez

One in a series posing the artist servicing plastic people. The subjugation of women perhaps?

Woman servicing plastic people, Martine Gutierrez

One in a series posing the artist servicing plastic people. The subjugation of women perhaps?

Woman servicing plastic people, Martine Gutierrez

One in a series posing the artist servicing plastic people. The subjugation of women perhaps?

Boat dock and exhibit space, Arsenale

Arsenale grounds

The Arsenale is an old military complex surrounding a small harbour that has been repurposed as exhibition space.

Arsenale grounds

The Arsenale is an old military complex surrounding a small harbour that has been repurposed as exhibition space.

Arsenale grounds

The Arsenale is an old military complex surrounding a small harbour that has been repurposed as exhibition space.

Sunset view on way to vaporetto stop

5 Nov - Something for everyone

Biennale day 3 - 7 Nov