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Daata had an amazing presence in Venice thanks to Zuecca Projects who placed screens with Digital art from Daata Editions in shops all around Venice
Even Charles Atlas wanted to get in on the act - he has an incredible installation in the Arsenale.
There were some special moments in this magical city. A glass of Prosecco and time to relax with the incoming Tate Director taking time to talk to Iwan Wirth - a behind the scenes star of the Biennale with twelve incredibly successful projects including Mark Bradford in the American Pavilion, Phyllida Barlow in the British Pavilion and Philip Guston at the Academia.
A lovely moment finding Frances Stark, McArthur Binion and Kavi Gupta in conversation.
The highlight of our whole trip was dinner for Mark Bradford at the Doges Palace Palazzo Ducale, I have never seen anything so beautiful and voluminous in Venice. The main hall where the reception was held was the size of a football field with the usual fantastical paintings filling every corner. I had my moment with mother and daughter - our hostess’s Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser - and lovely Annabelle Seldorf the renowned architect and designer of many of the Hauser and Wirth projects.
After being wined and dined by the most wonderful hosts, Francois Pinault, Hauser and Wirth, White Cube, and David and Amy Neuman from Magasin III in Sweden, I visit my favourite hot spots. The first being Muccia Prada’s Fondazione Prada. I finally get to meet her and I am wobbling at the knees I am so in awe of this fantastic lady. Buying a Prada item gives me satisfaction in knowing that so much of her profits goes back into the arts. There was an amazing show called ‘The Boat is Leaking. The Captain Lied’ - an exchange between filmmaker Alexander Kluga, artist Thomas Demand, costume designer Anna Viebrock and curator Udo Kittelman. The show is an exhibition of experiences and encounters.
There were walls full of pink paper blossoms...
Strange doors taking us into worlds familiar but unfamiliar. I felt like I was in a Punch Drunk production scenario without the actors. Not quite knowing but intrigued and as always wishing for more time to be able to learn and absorb.
Then we sped off to the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore where an exhibition of works in glass by Memphis designer Ettore Sottsass. He collaborated with the Cenedese glassworks.
He had in his many years of designing created the most weird and wondrous works. So many had a human feel to them filling the spaces with happiness and awe.
So excited to see Rachel Maclean representing Scotland and totally nailing it with a show stopper new work ‘Spite Your Face’!
