A pavilion Vatican at next Venice Biennale

Nov. 28, 2008 - PRLog -- NEW-YORK. For the first time, Vatican would have its own pavilion in the Venice Biennale 2009. Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi as President of the Pontifical Council for Culture at the Vatican, and Professor Francesco Buranelli, have the mission to establish dialogue between Church and contemporary art with the great artists of our time.
Possible names include Anish Kapoor, Jannis Kounellis, Bill Viola, Mark Wallinger… The most amazing is a French artist, Yannig Guillevic, who will present a new project entitled « Jesus washing feet » consisting of a monumental painting and a holographic projection of Pope Benedict XVI.
It remains to be seen if the propositions of other contemporary artists like Damien Hirst or Sam Taylor-Wood will be not too provocative for the Holy See, even if their works obviously show some relations with religious iconography.

Martin Moore, ARTNEWS SCOOP