Maldives Pavilion
The Maldives Pavilion represents the Republic of the Maldives at the International Art Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia among the National Pavilions. The inaugural Pavilion was introduced in 2013[1] for the 55th Venice Biennale, curated by Massimiliano Gioni. The Commissioner of the Pavilion is The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Republic of the Maldives. The inaugural pavilion explored the themes of ecological romanticism and climate crisis.
Maldives Pavilion 2013
Portable Nation: Disappearance as Work in Progress – Approaches to Ecological Romanticism,[2] The first presentation of the National Pavilion of the Maldives, was presented from June 1 through to November 24 of 2013.
Presented as an international exhibition devoted to the topic of climate change and eco-aesthetics, the Pavilion combined the dual focuses of the beauty of the nation's landscapes with the rich visual history of this Republic. The exhibition provided an "aesthetical experience and extensive knowledge of the concept of Contemporary Environmental Romanticism[3] through the works of the Official Artists and the Collateral Events.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Republic of the Maldives serve as the Commissioner of the Pavilion and appointed the Curators of this exhibition, the international collective CPS – Chamber of Public Secrets (Alfredo Cramerotti, Aida Eltorie, Khaled Ramadan). As part of the curatorial background, CPS notes that "A 60 cm raise in sea levels would see the entirety of the Maldives smothered by the ocean and make the Maldivian population probably the first refugees of global warming."[4] Considered as being one of the most endangered Countries by the current sea level rise associated with climatological effects of human influences, nature as a culturally defined etymology is used as a point of departure for explorations of the ethics of climate change contingencies such as the possibility of climate refugees
The subtitle of the Pavilion, Disappearance as work in progress – approaches to Ecological Romanticism, conceived the Maldives Pavilion as a platform for artists, environmental campaigners, and thinkers.[5][6]
The venue of the Pavilion was the Gervasuti Foundation on via Garibaldi, a former Wood-shop since converted into a foundation.[7] During the time of the Exhibition, the foundation operated as an exhibition space, a bookstore, as well as a terrace cafe with weekly curated events presented by Curator-in-Residence Mike Watson of Joan of Art: Towards a Free Education, through the Collateral Events programming.[8]
As part of the preview program of the Biennale, the Pavilion realized an ephemeral outdoor installation: The Ice Monolith. Participating artist Stefano Cagol placed a block of ice on the shore of Venice in Riva Cà di Dio and symbolically left it melting, shooting the entire 60 hours process.[9][10]
The exhibition catalogue was published in 2014 by Maretti Editore and is entitled: Portable Nation. Maldives Pavilion, edited by Dorian Batycka, Camilla Boemio, Alfredo Cramerotti, Aida Eltoire, Maretti Editore, 2013 ISBN 978-88-89477-519
Commissioner
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Republic of the Maldives
Curators
- CPS – Chamber of Public Secrets (Alfredo Cramerotti, Aida Eltorie, Khaled Ramadan)
Associate curators
- Maren Richter
- Camilla Boemio
Assistant curators
- Stine Hoxbroe
- Galia Kirilova
- Dorian Batycka
- Hanna Husberg
- Laura McLean
- Abed Anouti
- Kalliopi Tsipni-Kolaza
- Dana Kopel
Organizing partner
- Gervasuti Foundation
Participating artists
- Mohamed Ali
- Sama Raena Alshaibi
- Ursula Biemann
- Stefano Cagol
- Wael Darwesh (http://www.waeldarweish.com/wordpress/biography-3)
- Moomin Fouad
- Thierry Geoffrey (aka Colonel)
- it:Khaled Hafez
- Heidrun Holzfeind (http://www.heidrunholzfeind.com/) & Christoph Draeger (http://www.christophdraeger.com/)
- Hanna Husberg, Laura McLean, and Kalliopi Tsipni-Kolaza (http://www.contingentmovementsarchive.com/) (http://www.hannahusberg.com)
- Achilleas Kentonis (http://www.achilleas-kentonis.net/) & Maria Papacaharalambous
- Gregory Niemeyer with Chris Chafe and Perrin Meyer (polartide)
- Khaled Ramada
- Oliver Ressler
- Klaus Schafler (http://www.schafler.net/)
- Patrizio Travagli (http://www.travagli.it/)
- Wooloo (http://www.wooloo.org/)
Collateral Events
- Ehsan Fardjadniya (Pirate Cinema)
- Mark Dahl (http://markdahl.blogspot.ca/)
- Celeste Pimm
- Oliver Ressler (http://www.ressler.at/category/projects/)
- Marian Tubbs (http://www.mariantubbs.com/)
- Mike Watson, Joan of Art (http://joanofart.net/)[13]
- Mark McGowan (performance artist) AKA Artist Taxi Driver
References
Books
- 55. Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte – la Biennale di Venezia. Il palazzo enciclopedico, Marsilio Editori, 2013 ISBN 978-88-317-1558-4
- Portable Nation. Maldives Pavilion, edited by Dorian Batycka, Camilla Boemio, Alfredo Cramerotti, Aida Eltoire, Maretti Editore, 2013 ISBN 978-88-89477-519
- Stefano Cagol, The Ice Monolith. Platform, 2013 ISBN 978-88-902879-6-1
- Klaus Schafler, Hacking the Future and Planet…, Folio Verlag, 2013 ISBN 978-3-85256-611-5
Reviews
- Holly Howe, “How this year’s Venice Biennale made us think about climate change,” FAD, 2013
- Claudia Jolles “Editorial” + Cover, Kunstbulletin, July-Aug, 2013
- Mariella Rossi, “Nuestro mundo es finite. Our world is finite,” Lapiz, #279, 2013
- Georgina Adam, “New economies shake up the art world at Venice Biennale,” BBC, June 11, 2013
- Michela Moro, “Speciale Biennale,” Cool Tour. Rai 5, June 1, 2013
- Artan Krasniqi, “Bienalja si enciklopedi e hapur e artit,” Koha, June 1, 2013
- Kathleen Massara, “Venice Biennale 2013 Photo Diary,” Huffingtonpost, May 29, 31, 2013
- Holland Cotter, “Snapshots from Venice,” The New York Times, May 29, 2013
- Melissa Pearce, “The Portable Nation. The Republic of Maldives at 55th Venice Biennale,” The Culture Trip, May, 2013
- Kate Deimling, “Island Nations Seize the Venice Biennale Spotlight to Decry Climate Change,” Blouin Artinfo, Apr 24, 2013
Notes
- ↑ 55. Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte – la Biennale di Venezia. Il palazzo enciclopedico, Marsilio Editori, ISBN 978-88-317-1558-4
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/press-release-2/
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/curatorial-statement/
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/background/
- ↑ Kate Deimling, "Island Nations Seize the Venice Biennale Spotlight to Decry Climate Change," Blouin Artinfo, April 24
- ↑ Klaus Schafler, Hacking the Future and Planet…, Folio Verlag, ISBN 978-3-85256-611-5
- ↑ Portable Nation. Maldives Pavilion, edited by Dorian Batycka, Camilla Boemio, Alfredo Cramerotti, Aida Eltoire, Maretti Editore, ISBN 978-88-89477-519
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/call-for-participants-joan-of-art/
- ↑ Stefano Cagol, The Ice Monolith. Platform, ISBN 978-88-902879-6-1
- ↑ Claudia Jolles "Editorial" + Cover, Kunstbulletin, July–August
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/PressRelease_May22.pdf
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/press-release-2/
- ↑ http://maldivespavilion.com/blog/joan-of-art-program/
External links
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