Venice Biennale: A Lacklustre Year

It is now a familiar pattern: every two years, the press reports on the limits of the Venice Biennale, and even on the frank disappointment it engenders. From a high mass, unfortunately the event has too often become a contemporary art fair. To stand out, showiness sometimes prevails over appropriateness or relevance, and the artistic dimension suffers accordingly. The 58 th Venice Biennale is no exception. This year, the disappointment is largely due to the boredom felt when roaming through the international selection in the Arsenale and, especially, the Giardini sections. Chaotic hangings increase…