ItalyUpdate

The Venice Biennale, one of the worlds most prestigious showcases of contemporary art, can always be relied on to provide news and talking points.

The 53 rd version, which runs until the 22 nd November 2009 in the Giardini and Arsenale pavilions as well as in other parts of the city, inaugurated a permanent feature not everyone approved of: the gigantic stainless steel and acrylic polyurethane statue of the Boy with the Frog erected on the Punta della Dogana opposite St. Marks Square.

The ghostly white boy by American artist Charles Ray marks the entrance to the new Museum of Punta della Dogana, seat of the collection of French fashion tycoon Francois Pinault and second seat of the Palazzo Grassi museum and exhibition hall. The new contemporary art museum has been created in the 17 th century classical edifice of La Punta by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

This version of the Biennale, is entitled Making Worlds and features works by over 90 artists from all over the world. Some interesting appointments include:

A Tribute to Pietro Cascella, creator of the 1967 Monument at Auschivitz, in the Arsenale, Giardino delle Vergini (until 22 nd November)

In-Finitum in Palazzo Fortuny (until 15 th November 2009), last part of the spiritual journey trilogy conceived by Axel Vervoordt, which was inaugurated in Venice in 2007 and continued in Paris in 2008.

That Obscure Object of Art with highlights of the Stella Art Foundation at the Caezzonico (until the 5 th October).

The Adach Platform of Visual Arts, recently created in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the Spazio Thetis, Arsenale Nuovissimo (until 15 th October). There will also be, for the first time, an official UAE Pavilion, making United Arab Emirates is the first Gulf nation to participate in the Venice Biennale.

The Italian Pavilion houses Collaudi, and features eight young artists and two maestri, Gino de Dominicus and Michelangelo Pistoletto, inspired by the works of Italian 20 th century artist Marinetti, the founder of the Futurismo Movement.

The previous Italian Pavilion has been redesigned by Italo-American artist John Baldessari and rechristened the Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Exhibition Hall). It is now the permanent seat of the Biennale, containing the archives, library, restaurant and exhibition spaces.

For information: www.labiennale.org