20 Mar 2013
Creative New Zealand congratulates artist Simon Denny, who has been selected for the international curated show, The Encyclopedic Palace at the Venice Biennale 2013.This is the first time a New Zealand artist has been invited to take part in this prestigious section of the Biennale, which is curated by the Biennale’s Artistic Director, Massimiliano Gioni.
Denny, who is based in Berlin, will show his work in a section of the international exhibition Gioni describes as examining ‘’the blend of information, spectacle, and knowledge that is so characteristic of the digital era’’.
Creative New Zealand is also delighted that Auckland-based artist Mark Harvey has been invited by the curatorial collective Chamber of Secrets to participate in the Maldives Pavilion and two other New Zealand artists, Christchurch painter Darryn George (Nga Puhi) and Dunedin-based sculptor Scott Eady, will be presenting work in a collateral Biennale exhibition at Palazzo Bembo.
“Having such a strong New Zealand presence at the Venice Biennale, the most influential international contemporary art exhibition in the world, is exciting news and evidence of both the calibre of the visual arts in this country and its international relevance,’’ says Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Stephen Wainwright.
In 2012, Simon Denny won the prestigious Baloise Art Prize at Art 43 in Basel, Switzerland. He was presented at Art 43 by Auckland’s Michael Lett Gallery, with the support of a Creative New Zealand arts grant.
"The selection of Simon Denny for Massimiliano Gioni's Biennale is significant for New Zealand: this is the first time ever an artist from New Zealand has been included in the official curated section of the Biennale. Simon is an artist at the top of his game internationally, and we are very proud of his many accomplishments,” says Gallery Director, Michael Lett.
New Zealand’s official representative for the 55th Venice Biennale is sculptor, photographer and installation artist Bill Culbert, whose dramatic light sculptures will feature in the New Zealand Pavilion, Istituto Santa Maria della Pietà (La Pietà), on the city’s main pedestrian thoroughfare between Piazza San Marco and the Giardini (the principal venue of the Biennale).
The 55th Venice Biennale opens on 1 June 2013. Read more about New Zealand artists attending the Venice Biennale on the New Zealand at Venice website.
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Rebecca Lancashire | Senior Communications Adviser
Creative New Zealand | Old Public Trust Building, 131-135 Lambton Quay
PO Box 3806 | Wellington 6140
T +64 4 473 0880 | DDI +64 4 498 0725| M +64 (0) 27 677 8070 | F +64 4 471 2865
rebecca.lancashire@creativenz.govt.nz
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