What is the Biennale? In which countries are such events held?

Many are interested in what the Biennale is. Today one often hears this word. The Biennale is an exhibition or festival where cultural achievements are demonstrated. Usually people from different countries take part in them. There is such a festival once in two years. The modern biennale can be compared with the nervous system that permeates the entire planet. All people who are accustomed to step in step with the times know about such events. The exhibition often occupies a vast territory, on which a small city would fit perfectly.

Biennale in Venice and Kassel

The Venice Biennale is the oldest, it appeared at the end of the XIX century. Another exhibition with a rich history - "Document", held in a German city called Kassel. It is interesting that it takes place once in five years, but still considered a full-fledged Biennale. It was founded in 1947 by the efforts of curators who wanted to popularize the postwar art of Germany. According to the creators, the exhibition should arouse love for the Motherland. While the Biennale is still held and gathers a lot of spectators, it can be argued that the cultural level in the country is quite high. And this, of course, sets the optimistic mood. If you ask any German child what a biennial is, then most likely he will answer correctly, and that says a lot. As for the Venetian festival, its aim was to demonstrate masterpieces of Italian art, far from being limited to creations of the past years, for example, the Renaissance period, but which includes many interesting modern things at the time. After a while, the Biennale became more ambitious, and people from all over the world began to come to it. Artists from different countries were honored to take part in it.

Exhibitions in Istanbul, Gwangju and Dakar

Remarkable biennials are held in other countries, for example, in Turkey. The exhibition in Istanbul is localized. And it all started with the fact that an art critic named Beral Madra was able to convince the government and many influential people that cultural achievements of Turkey should be demonstrated to both citizens and foreigners. Soon after its founding, the Biennale acquired an international dimension. After a while, a similar exhibition was organized in South Korea, in the city of Gwangju. A contagious example was followed by Senegal, having founded the Biennale in Dakar. Many were very surprised, as they did not expect that something like that could be organized in such a country. There is a stereotype in society that the international biennial is the prerogative of more successful states.

Features of the Venetian and German Biennale

Today large-scale exhibitions are held in different countries, but the most famous is the Venetian. Perhaps, it can be compared with the Chinese flea market: there is an abundance of works of art that begins to ruffle in the eyes. Kassel, by contrast, is restrained and thoughtful. This can be considered an advantage. In Venice there is complete chaos, and in Kassel - order, worthy of praise. The Turkish exhibition, by the way, in many respects resembles the German one. The ingenious idea of the founders was an amazing embodiment. Today it is difficult to find an intelligent Turk who does not know what the Biennale is.

Modest attempts of underdeveloped countries

Stagnant states, in spite of common stereotypes, also try to organize spectacular events of this kind, but they do not always get it. For example, the Biennale, based in the South African city of Johannesburg, operated only a few years. International festivals are held in our country. It should also be mentioned about Saudi Arabia, which issued a rather large amount ($ 100 million) to the Pompidou Museum to establish the center of Islamic contemporary art. Well, a good beginning. It is noteworthy that in this center it is planned to demonstrate only works of art that are secular, not religious in nature. Egypt is another country where major exhibitions are held.

Moscow Biennale

June 25 there was a significant event. The VI Moscow International Biennale, fully dedicated to the young art, began functioning in the Museum of Moscow. For her was a wonderful theme - "Time to Dream". The exhibition involved the work of many artists from 32 countries.

But magnificent works of art can be seen not only in the Museum of Moscow, but also in some other places. For example, you should go to NCCA to enjoy the project "Dreaming Machines", which is based on the idea of creating a mechanism endowed with artificial intelligence. Here are the works of English, Russian and Korean authors. Of course, all their relatives and friends know what the Biennale is like. They also come here to admire the paintings.

But what is exposed in the Moscow Museum? Here you can see the creations of Pakistani, Czech, Ukrainian, Thai and Azerbaijani artists. To avoid confusion, it was decided on each floor to equip special pavilions for placing pictures of authors of different nationalities. For example, the works of Pakistani artists are devoted to the problems of peoples inhabiting states with an unstable situation in politics. There are young art at the Biennale and quite unusual installations created by creative authors. No one has regretted visiting the exhibition, on the contrary, everyone is delighted. So, the Biennale definitely deserves attention.