Open XI. International Exhibition of Sculptures and Installations

PR Log (Press Release) – Jul 21, 2008 – Press conference
27 August 2008 at 2.00 p.m. / Hotel Des Bains
Light cocktail
27 August 2008 at 4.00 p.m. / Blue Moon
Inauguration cocktail
27 August 2008 at 7.00 p.m. / Island of San Servolo
Open to the public
28 August – 28 September 2008, every day, entry free of charge   
Location
Open-air spaces at Venice Lido: Piazzale and Gran Viale S. M. Elisabetta,
Via Lepanto, Tempio Votivo, Lungomare G. Marconi,
Park / Hall Hotel Des Bains, Blue Moon, Terrace / Hall Hotel The Westin Excelsior
Island of San Servolo

Synergies and creativeness. Artistic intuition and contamination. The eleventh edition of OPEN, the International Exhibition of Sculptures and Installations, returns from 27 August to 28 September 2008 with an artistic panorama filled with suggestions, unprecedented expressive developments and new forms of collaboration.

The exhibition, conceived and curated by Paolo De Grandis, co-curated by Carlotta Scarpa and held in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Venice City Council, can rely on the expert intervention of curators such as Chang Tsong-zung, Enrico Pedrini, Nevia Pizzul Capello and on the new and profitable collaboration with Anna Caterina Bellati who has laid out an itinerary amply based on Italian production aimed at reawakening the sensitivity, style and original creative strength of this national scene of expression which has been long underestimated. OPEN is also held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of the Cultural Heritage, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Veneto Region, the Province of Venice and Venice City Council, together with the Embassies of the countries taking part.

The itinerary of the exhibition presents the works of forty-three artists from all over the world, creating a geographical thought; not only an ethnic and political concept, but above all an idea. A cue for talking about travels and crossings, strength and power. A breathing space, to cross the threshold of unexpected social and artistic relationships. From China to France, from Italy to the United States, each participant in the exhibition undertakes to represent and play the role of exponent of his home country. The OPEN formula has been crowned with success, presenting over the years more than three hundred artists from seventy countries, and for this reason it has also been awarded the Silver Plate of the President of the Republic.

Venice Lido
CHINA / Chen WenLing, Huang Zhiyang, Jiao Xingtao,
Li Hui, Liu Yonggang, Zhao Guanghui
CYPRUS / Klitsa Antoniou
FINLAND / Marianna Uutinen
FRANCE / André, Cyrille André, Tamara Landau,
Jean-Pierre Landau and Bruno Contensou, Pierre Poggi
GERMANY / Rolf Bienentreu, Paul Elsner
JAPAN / Tsuchida Yasuhiko
GREAT BRITAIN / Marc Quinn
ITALY / Christian Balzano, Mauro Benatti, Damiano Casalini, Leonardo Chionna,
Domenico Di Genni, Paola Giordano, Mya Lurgo, Vincenzo Musardo,
Mario Paschetta, Oliviero Rainaldi, Tobia Ravà, Giulio Serafini, Pier Toffoletti
NETHERLANDS / Hans Holtkamp and Peter Ter Maten
SPAIN / Angel Orensanz
USA / Carole A. Feuerman

Island of San Servolo
C.R.E.A.M.: Giacomo Roccon, Barbara Taboni, Cristina Treppo, Giuseppe Vigolo,
Dania Zanotto (ITALY) Martin-Emilian Balint (ROMANIA) Nebojša Despotović (SERBIA)
USA China Blue