Often referred to as the Olympics of contemporary art, the Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) has, for over a century, been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. Since its founding in 1895, it has promoted contemporary culture, new ideas, and artistic trends through major international exhibitions. The 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale will take place June 4 – November 27, 2011.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art has been selected to present the work of the Puerto Rico-based artist collaborative Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla at the U.S. Pavilion.

Six new works by Allora & Calzadilla will premiere at the 2011 Biennale, transforming the interior and exterior of the U.S. Pavilion into a dynamic and interactive space. The new commissions by Allora & Calzadilla will employ a variety of artistic practices to pose important questions about the relationships among art, politics, and international identity. These multimedia works will utilize performance, sculpture, video and sound elements to highlight the role of art in framing and exploring complex social issues such as national identity, democracy, militarism, and freedom. Comprised of works developed specifically in response to the U.S. Pavilion site, the exhibition will analyze contemporary geopolitics through the lens of spectacular nationalistic and competitive enterprises such as the Olympic Games, international commerce, war, the military-industrial complex and even the Biennale itself.

Lisa D. Freiman, Chair of the IMA’s Department of Contemporary Art, will serve as commissioner of the U.S. Pavilion.

The U.S. Pavilion is presented by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which supports and manages the official United States participation at selected international exhibitions.

U.S. Pavilion

Within the Castello Gardens that host the national Pavilions of the Venice Biennale, the US Pavilion is a Palladian-style structure designed by William Adams Delano and Chester Holmes Aldrich and opened in 1930.

Acquired by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1986, the U.S. Pavilion is presented by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which supports and manages the official United States participation at selected international exhibitions.

HOURS: The U.S. Pavilion is open from 10 am to 6 pm through November 27. It is closed on Mondays with the exceptions of June 6, August 15, October 31, and November 21. View the performance schedule.

Allora & Calzadilla, Track and Field, 2011. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Allora & Calzadilla, Track and Field, 2011. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Allora & Calzadilla, Track and Field, 2011. Photo by Tascha Horowitz.

Allora & Calzadilla, Track and Field, 2011. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Allora & Calzadilla, Track and Field, 2011. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Olympic athlete Rachel Salzman rehearses on “Body in Flight (Delta)”. Photo by Andrew Bordwin

Allora & Calzadilla, Armed Freedom Lying in a Sunbed, 2011. Andrew Bordwin Photo

Allora & Calzadilla, Algorithm, 2011. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Allora & Calzadilla, Half Mast/Full Mast, 2010. Photo by Andrew Bordwin.

Foto: Cosmin Năsui & official website

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Modernism.ro vă prezintă, în premieră, un serial dedicat expozițiilor pavilioanelor naționale și evenimentelor paralele și dar și a celor colaterale ale Bienalei de Artă de la Veneția, unul dintre cele mai importante evenimente europene de artă contemporană.

Mulțumim Institutului Român de Cultură şi Cercetare Umanistică de la Veneția și ICR București pentru suportul și sprijinul acordat la realizarea acestui serial.