http://www.grahamhay.com.au
  • index
    • News
  • art
  • exhibitions_all
  • classes
  • Video
  • paper clay
  • workshop / symposia
  • bio
  • cv
  • writing
  • projects
  • Studio
  • reviews

The 2017 Venice Biennale

Review by artist Graham Hay
Flop or not?  Is the Venice Biennale a time warp in the global art world, or does it promise us an artistic redemption through transformation ?

After a week and half in May and another week in August visiting as many exhibitions as possible, it was impossible to see even half of the artwork.  The many formal and informal art guides offered maps, and so time efficient ways, to see the over 200 exhibitions running concurrently May to November. However, like the medusa's head in Damion Herist's "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable" exhibition, it solidified my existing perceptions.
Reviews of Herist's huge twin exhibitions have ranged from bad to good.  The Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable title 
Arsenale: SHIMABUKU (b. 1969 Japan, lives and works in Naha), "Oldest and Newest Tools of Human Beings", 2016. 4 prehistoric Axes, 4 smart phones, Vitrine with glass. His video "shapening a MacBook Air" of him doing just that and then using it to cut vegetables provided light relief from an overload of too serious art. — at Arsenale Biennale Di Venezia.
Conclusion
Of course the sensible thing is to conclude that the truth about the Venice Biennale lies somewhere between the binary opposites of flop and not.  I'm not sure I want to moderately please and ​moderately annoy all readers...
click here for exhibition invitation / annual e-newsletter (via Mail chimp)

This website was first created in July 2000 (latest update 26 March 2021) to freely share information on how to make and use paper clay.  This was well before textbooks, Youtube, with only a few International journal articles.  The website grew to documentation art projects and events.   It is a symbolic “thank you” to the many thousands who participated in events I led, who shared so generously their own discoveries and techniques.  This ultimately benefited my future students and is a gift to the next generation of potters, artists and students.  I hope it informs you, inspires you, informs you and provides a possible map for your creative journey. Enjoy your travels!  Cheers! Graham

Active social platform icon links below:
+30 articles, images, experts, paper clay workshops, conferences and symposia, (latest update 26 March 2021)  . ​​
​All content and images on this site is © the artists, authors or photographer. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited by law.
​Purchase online a licence to use images of art by Graham Hay via https://viscopy.net.au/
Photography of Graham Hay's art is predominately by Victor France and the artist.
privacy policy.
  • index
    • News
  • art
  • exhibitions_all
  • classes
  • Video
  • paper clay
  • workshop / symposia
  • bio
  • cv
  • writing
  • projects
  • Studio
  • reviews