Book Excerpt: WTF is a Biennale?
An excerpt from “WTF, Answering All Your Questions About the Art World”
The term "Biennale" refers to a major international art exhibition that takes place every two years. It originated from the Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia), which is one of the most prominent and oldest art biennials in the world. The Venice Biennale was first held in 1895 and has since become a prestigious event that showcases contemporary art, architecture, film, dance, and theater.
The Venice Biennale consists of several different components, including the International Art Exhibition, which features curated exhibitions by artists from various countries, and the International Architecture Exhibition, focusing on architectural concepts and projects. In addition to these main exhibitions, the Venice Biennale also hosts specialized events, such as the International Festival of Contemporary Music, the International Film Festival, and the International Theatre Festival.
The Venice Biennale has inspired the establishment of numerous art biennials and triennials around the world, which are organized by different cities and countries. These events aim to showcase contemporary art, foster cultural exchange, and provide a platform for artists, curators, and art professionals to connect and engage with a global audience.
Examples of other notable biennales include:
1.São Paulo Biennial (São Paulo, Brazil)
2.Documenta (Kassel, Germany)
3.Istanbul Biennial (Istanbul, Turkey)
4.Whitney Biennial (New York City, USA)
5.Sydney Biennale (Sydney, Australia)
And now I’d like to share with you a section from our e-book, WTF? Answering All Your Questions About the Art World. WTF, of course, stands for What the Fresco. I wrote this with my partners Nechama Hermon, an art historian, and Ashley Ludwig, an arts and culture expert.
We wrote this book using colloquial language, a bit of irreverence, a little help from AI, and an open attitude. Our goal is to be inviting, fun, and informative, especially to young adult audiences and people new to the art world. We want to be engaging. We hope you’ll laugh. We hope you’ll investigate some of these cultural events and make plans to attend. We hope you’ll rush right over to your nearest museum and enjoy it with new eyes. We hope you’ll ask questions and fall in love with the arts.
The book is a graphic design masterpiece! I’m so proud of our colorful and visually pleasing layout. Each page is different and vibrant. It’s fantastic fun to look at. Frankly, it just makes me happy.
Add happy + educational and you get the best art book intro any culturally interested person could find.