Florence Biennale 2017: the festival kicks off, in its 11th edition

It started on Friday, Oct. 6, at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, the 11th edition of “Florence Biennale - International Exhibition of Contemporary Art,” which will run until Sunday, Oct. 15 . The central theme of this edition, directed by Jacopo Celona, is "eARTh: creativity and sustainability," a theme that outlines a vision of the future in which creativity and sustainability are founding principles of an “ecosystem” of art and culture where respect for nature and all forms of life on Earth prevails.

A total of462 artists from 72 countries from all five continents are participating in the kermesse: the most represented country isItaly with 65 artists, followed byChina with 60. Among the curiosities on display are even an Argentine artist who offers installations with Lego bricks and the Dane who, being handicapped since birth, paints with her mouth; then there is the Swiss who, in addition to painting, is a Latin pop star, as well as well as an Israeli photographer presenting a series of shots on the theme of peace, a 23-year-old Florentine national swimming athlete with a passion for realist painting, an 18-year-old Russian (the youngest of “Florence Biennale 2017”) student at the St. Petersburg Academy who will present installations with many small T.Rex, and an indigenous artist from the Amazon who is showing her works for the first time in Europe.

The event aims to take a look at contemporary artistic production on an international level, thus confirming the event as an independent, free, inclusive and innovative “platform” for artists who at different stages of their careers are experimenting with old and new techniques with disparate materials, and which welcomes the main forms of artistic expression.

During each edition of the Florence Biennale, artists who have distinguished themselves in the relevant artistic categories receive, as winners identified from among the finalists for the competing works, the International Prize “Lorenzo il Magnifico” (the work of adopted Florentine artist Mario Pachioli), awarded by an international jury made up of prominent personalities from the world of art and culture. The 11th edition of “Florence Biennale” includes the following art categories in competition: drawing, graphic art and calligraphy, painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramic art, textile art, art jewelry, photography, digital art, video art, art installation and performance. The award is an important milestone for the winners and merit recipients, but also a distinction that for many of them marked an advancement in their artistic careers on the contemporary scene.

The Florence Biennale also awards the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Lifetime Achievement Award to individuals and institutions that have distinguished themselves for artistic merit or for their contribution to culture. Past editions have honored, among others, Marina Abramovic, Anish Kapoor, Marta Minujin, David Hockney, Chen Cheng-Hsiung, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Gilbert & George, Shu Yong, José Luis Cuevas, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and Italians Mario Carbone, Franco Mussida and Giampaolo Talani.

The 11th edition of “Florence Biennale” is held under the patronage of Italian governmental and local public authorities such as MiBACT, the Region of Tuscany, the Province and City of Florence, the University of Siena, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and ICOMOS; the latter organization will hold its annual conference at the Teatrino Lorenese of the Fortezza da Basso on Saturday, Oct. 14, right during “Florence Biennale.”

Just as since 2013 “Florence Biennale” has been an integral part of theInternational Biennial Association, which brings together the world’s most prestigious biennial events, in this special 20th anniversary edition, the exhibition has also obtained the patronage of the Italian National Commission forUNESCO.

For information visit the Florence Biennale website.

Florence Biennale 2017: the festival kicks off, in its 11th edition

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