An essential part of Biennale are the many receptions that the pavilions and assorted foundations and exhibitions host. These take place throughout the three days of the preview and create definite focal points that punctuate an otherwise endless schedule of art appreciation. They a offer a great opportunity to meet people, to see the full character of a pavilion and its team and, if you work them well, you need not pay for a single drink or meal while in Venice.
Here are some impressions of a few of them.
Turkish pavilion: took place in near darkness amongst a video installation with the food and drinks all served from one very crowded table. Joyful and with the character of a nighclub bar.
Luxembourg pavilion: well attended with solid catering. An art rock band, an offshoot of the exhibition, played inside to a crowded gallery. A rather random assortment of guests as it was in a part of the city where there were a cluster of pavilions all holding receptions that evening: people were drifting in from the Montenegrin pavilion and next stop was the foundation round the corner.
Hong Kong arts reception: this was a more private reception that was stumbled upon and they turned out to be providing high-class catering served by a team of hyper-active waiters. A well heeled crowd attended this event and the talk was about the West Kowloon Arts regeneration programme.
Estonian pavilion: a well attended reception and one put together with a fraction of the resources of most others. They made the right choice of quantity over quality serving simple wine and flavoured bread as the visitors understood (many were from Estonia and the other Baltic states) and the event was much more a networking ocassion that wanted to last a while.
Zhong Biao’s reception: this was the most lavish public reception I attended. The catering was conspicously good with one good quality Italian dish following another. It was attended by an unlikely mix of people: a very dressed up younger Chinese art crowd looking like it was more a society wedding than an art opening, a mixed Italian group with a few art professionals and some younger people to make up numbers and then a few strays like me. The art was not at all to Western tastes but sells well in China (and thus has investment status) and the converation was on how Sichuan curators are taking over.
Danish pavilion: quantities of Karlsberg flowing but not so many people. Relaxed and good for conversation.
