La Biennale di Venezia

Holy hell.

We went to Venice, and of course, the Biennale as well. As a virgin to such things, it was rather overwhelming. I think in the 5 days we were there, we got to about 70% of the lot, and there were a few major "it's too bloody hot and sticky" moments where we ended up missing out on some things - most notably AES+F's The Feast of Trimalchio (I think when I saw Last Riot at the City Gallery it was the first time I'd ever tolerated sitting through an ENTIRE artist video, and it may have even been twice!) I might even be ever so pissed at myself at that. Shuld have done a bit more research though, ah?

But really, there's like 97 artists in the Making Worlds Fare Mondi exhibition over 2 sites, 78 countries involved in both the Giardini, Arsenale and Participating countries exhibitions (if you count the IILA Istituto Italo-Latino Americano countries as separate, which only seems fair) and 44 collateral events. All in all, I dread to think how many artists are involved - but just may be drunk or stupid enough to cont them some time soon!

My head is a mess; my desire to discuss everything I've seen is so paramount, and I wanna talk shit about it all. Even if you have the most fleeting interest in contemporary art production (and the glorious power of nationalisation and creative control etc etc), if you can, you just have to see it! Much more to talk about - and will do soon!






So, aside from that, lots has been going on...

We have been biking all over Denmark - well Sjælland - went and had a lovely lunch in Zürich (where I had to get a new camera cos my old one totally crapped out - and it was only a year old. Sigh), and a not so lovely lunch in Düsseldorf; went to the weirdest museum in Malmö, and I've been so so busy with work. Oh and I have an article coming out in the Journal of New Zealand Art History, so that's a bit cool!

Oh to find a rich sponsor who'll assist me in achieving my full academic potential! It might be Sweden for my masters.

Anyway, some pics will follow in a more sensible order soon!

Random København shots

So I'm dumping a bunch of pictures here at first, and will add to them more systematically as time goes on ...
Frederiksberg Have - bird nests on the bird island.

Frederiksberg Have tree - yeah, I like trees...

Frederiksberg Slot and tobogganists.

Tree in Fredericksberg Have.

The back stairs. They're bloody steep and a bit WW2 like - especially when you see the place next door's back door plaque ...

Gunner Hansen - the neighbours back door plaque. So WW2.

Ok, so I was a bit pizzled, and the trees were so pretty. This is outside David's work, and we'd just played some pretty hardcore foosball, which I never though I'd do, but it really is fun!

The Black Diamond building from Knippelsbro at sunset.

The view from our bedroom window.

Off to get Jack. Like kids, we sat in the front of the Metro train, which have no drivers (it's all automatic) so it kinda felt like a Disney ride, or a PlayStation game!

Cornelius Norbertus Gijsbrechts, Cut-Out Trompe I'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece, 1670-72 & Trompe I'oeil. The Reverse of a Framed Painting, 1670.

These are cool. Old Dutch art that questions the nature of painting. Seen at the Statens Museum for Kunst

Ingar Dragset and Michael Elmgreen, Please, keep quiet, 2003 (detail).

A hospital ward transplanetd into the Statens Museum for Kunst. Beautiful - feeds into the work I wanna do on mascunlity and mortality ... There's more photo's, but I love how much this works into the Grant Lingard sickness stuff.

The Lakes on a beautiful, if bloody cold, day

Enghavevej. Round the corner from us.


David and I on Frederiksberg Alle.

London January 2009

Didn't take that many pics in London this time. Will post some older pics of Oxford and stuff later...

Entry to Dominique Gonzalez-Foerester, TH.2058, 2008. Tate Modern, Turbine Hall. see more here


David and Valentine in the back of Pete's wagon - yes, they actually stayed in the back all closed up and bouncing around all the way home!


Profile (Alex)

New York City (2004 & 2009)

W. 22nd Street - 10th Precinct.


More tree'n'snow action. Oh, and a cemetery too.


Jeff Koons, The Red Balloon Flower, (1995-2000) 7 WTC. Ice dags!


Jeff Koons, The Red Balloon Flower, (1995-2000). See Jeff Koons art-speaking his way through it here


Juicy Lucy's - for Rachael.


W. 14th Street - why are divorces more expensive? Funny America.


Jodie and Me - yeah I'm real pink (sunburn and LOTS of pink about). I wonder if I should photoshop it? It's a great pic of The Girl though.


Go-Go Boy at Küte at the G-Lounge.


Tree (Montague, Mass.), 2004


Victor Matthews, Beyond Metamorphisis, 2004. Battery Park.


Belvedere Castle in Central Park (2004)

Kulture

The collection store I worked in in Te Papa Tongarewa

Flags on the Waterfront - Wellington

These flags were installed as part of the 2004 New Zealand Festival of the Arts. They were a dynamic and totally beautiful site, and the hill (removed in 2007) was not only a great wind breaker, but a very popular sunning spot.