Strolling through Venice, one breathes in the air of the Biennale, that’s that typical buzz when one of the world’s most famous international art exhibitions is underway in the city. It is a bit similar to the fashion week in Paris. When one notices some contemporary installation in the calli or campielli, or crosses paths with some whimsical and perhaps originally dressed characters, it’s a Venetian habit to say “It’s because of the Biennale”.
Each of the pavilions within the Biennale gardens are equated with the visit of a foreign delegation and have the right of extraterritoriality.
Venetians always remember that during the 1948 Biennale, Peggy Guggenheim exhibited her entire collection in the Greek pavilion, offering a unique overview of contemporary art; it was Pollock’s debut in Europe and the pavilion was designed by none other than Carlo Scarpa. The Biennale buzz can also be enjoyed in St. Mark’s Square this year while encountering one of the twelve meninas, large bronze sculptures by Manolo Valdès, located in the square until June 16th.
