Thousands of visitors from all over the world are captivated by the solemn and imperishable beauty of Venice. Venice is a beating heart, a reasoning mind and a creating hand. And it is in this pulsating, living place that art from all over the world meets, punctually, every two years at the Biennale. An event that brings together art works in every form, all to be discovered and admired in the surreal atmosphere of the lagoon city.
We suggest our guests to leave the calm of Cavallino and spend a day to discover one of the most important events in the art world. Why? We will tell you straight away.
The Venice Biennale was born in one of the most famous salons in St. Mark’s Square, the Caffè Florian. Towards the end of the 19th century, the salon was often frequented by intellectuals, artists and important people of the city, including Riccardo Selvatico, mayor from 1890 to 1895. He and his collaborators conceived the plan for an avant-garde art exhibition that saw the light of on 30th April 1895: it was the 1st International Art Exhibition of Venice.
The event, hosted at the Napoleonic Gardens, immediately saw the participation of a large number of artists from different sides of the world. Each country had its own exhibition pavilion, many of which were designed by famous architects such as Carlo Scarpa, Josef Hoffmann and Gerrit Rietveld.
The artists included names such as Klimt, Renoir, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Pollock, Hirst, Cattelan and many others. It was clear that the Venice Biennale was not just a contemporary art exhibition.
Today the Venetian event undoubtedly is one of the most important events on the global art scene, a blank sheet of paper on which to write history using the most universal language there is: art.
The event is organised every two years by the Venice Biennale (indipendent since 1930), which is responsible not only for the Biennale Arte, but also for Biennale Architettura, Biennale Cinema, Biennale Musica, Biennale Danza and Biennale Teatro.
The title of the 59th edition of Venice Art Biennale 2022, curated by Cecilia Alemani, is “The Milk of Dreams”. A title borrowed from the children’s book of fairy tales by Leonora Carrington, which tells of a dreamlike world in which fantastic creatures, both human and animal, coexist. And this is the claim of the exhibition: to tell a journey into a surreal world in which it is possible to change and become something else.
Following this thread, the exhibition is structured around three main themes: the representation and metamorphosis of bodies; the relationship between individuals and technologies; and the links between bodies and the Earth. 1433 works, presented by 213 artists, question the viewer on those questions that have dominated the past and reappeared during the Pandemic: What is human? What distinguishes the plant world, the animal, the human and the non-human? What responsibility do we have towards our planet?
Faced with these questions, Cecilia Alemani’s wish is not to feel defeated, but in harmony with oneself and with what is other than oneself.
For the first time, this year the Art Biennale lasts six months, from 23 April to 27 November. The cost of the ticket is 25 euro and includes entrance to the Central Pavilion, the Giardini and the Arsenale, which can also be visited on different days. For the over 65s, under 26s, students and groups there are also special discounts to let everyone enjoy the event.
If your holidays are coming to an end, take advantage of September temperatures to visit the Biennale or discover all our activities: we suggest you a guided tour in Venice or a pleasant boat trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello. Visit us with your camper van or choose one of our lodges, mobile homes or bungalows and enjoy one of our offers for this period.