Look carefully! One of many joys at the Lorna Simpson show at the Punta della Dogana in Venice. The show is an inventive retrospective. It starts at the end and goes back to the beginning. Some huge new works prove how poetic and inventive she has become. While the early stuff - like this cheeky video - is full of wit and humour. There are also singing pots! You have to try them.
#LornaSimpson #Venice
With @yumikatayamaart at the Anish Kapoor show in the Venice Biennale. Anish seems to be two different artists at once these days. He makes thoughtful minimalist stuff like this. And he makes gory, here’s-my-blood-and-guts pieces that look like the inside of a slaughtered cow. Dream art and vomit art side by side. I guess there’s big stuff going on inside him!
Inside thé Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. I did not want to go in but my paper Thé Sunday Times wanted me to write about it so I forced myself. It was both creepy and laughable. The main theme was flowers - a lament about how they did not smell anymore because of factory production. There was also a box full of designer clothing that was being handed out for free. And two Brazilian DJs blasting out electronic dance music. Assorted snazzy Russians were trying to get us to dance. No one did. It was like a particularly sad party where everyone stays in the kitchen. Basically, the Russians were trying to bombard us with herbivorous vibes. You could smell the dishonesty of it all. Even if you couldn’t smell the flowers. I’ll be writing about it in the paper next week.
You’re not allowed to take photos in the Marina Abramovic show in Venice. So here’s a picture of the catalogue instead. It’s just as well. The show is very silly. And pretty creepy too. You’re supposed to lie there absorbing the energy of various crystals while weird cultists in white coats take your hand and lead you round. Reminded me of the time I visited thé Mormon Temple in Utah!
Some sort of world record for protests broken at the Venice Biennale this year. Israel, of course, gets much of the opprobrium. But the loudest complaints were aimed at the Russians. Their grim pavilion was so ugly it was almost funny. Bravo Pussy Riot for mounting a protest.
Ooooh, this was good. Sonic and visual interplay by Mark Francis in the San Marino pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Cross between Rothko and Bridget Riley!
And the award for The Least Helpful or Friendly Door Staff At Thé Venice Biennale goes to the Tadeusz Kantor exhibition in St Mark’s Square. Closed early. Staff outside having a fag. Not a hint of friendliness. Why are they here?
Among my favourites at the Venice Biennale - thé HUGE paintings/sewings by Kaloki Nyomai. Who’s frôm Kenya. The size counts - sure. But what’s really fab is the emotion. Big, powerful, dreamy. Love it!
Thank you to the Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale for reminding me of the pleasures of fatherhood! I loved my babies. And this borrowed one was fun too.
