Media releases
New Zealand Pavilion at the 2009 Venice Biennale a success
22nd of December 2009
New Zealand's participation at the art world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibition - the Venice Biennale - was a critical and popular success with an unprecedented number of visitors passing through the 2009 exhibitions.
The 53rd International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia closed on 22 November. More than 114,000 visitors viewed Judy Millar's installation, Giraffe-Bottle-Gun, curated by Leonhard Emmerling and Francis Upritchard's installation, Save Yourself curated by Heather Galbraith and Francesco Manacorda.
The opening ceremonies attracted widespread international media coverage; numerous major art publications have printed interviews with the artists and reviews of their work. Both artists have been invited to contribute at international exhibitions and art fairs. Judy Millar has been selected for the prestigious New York International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) residency on the strength of her biennale representation.
Creative New Zealand's Arts Council Chair Alastair Carruthers congratulated all those involved in this year's event. "New Zealanders should be very proud of what Judy Millar and Francis Upritchard have achieved. We look forward to welcoming their artwork back to New Zealand at Te Papa as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival in February."
Mr Carruthers also acknowledged the support of other partners, "The success of the event would not have been possible without the contribution of significant private patronage, support from New Zealand Major Events, Tourism New Zealand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Te Papa."
Mr Carruthers confirmed today that Creative New Zealand has commenced planning for the 2011 Venice Biennale and announced that this year's commissioner Jenny Harper would again be New Zealand's Commissioner for 2011.
Jenny Harper said the importance of a New Zealand exhibit at the Venice Biennale was crucial to this country's reputation in the international visual art field.
"I am delighted with the results we achieved at the 2009 biennale. Our artists presented quite wonderful work and there was a willing team of supporters who made our presence connect with the biennale audience. Of course, I am thrilled to have been asked to be commissioner once more and look forward to us achieving success again and into the future."
Jenny Harper will form a visual arts advisory panel in the New Year to progress planning for the next biennale.
The unique New Zealand opening event and display of the best of New Zealand's contemporary culture supported New Zealand's presence at the 2009 Venice Biennale. The New Zealand Room adjacent to Judy Millar's venue was used to promote New Zealand cultural trade and tourism to an international audience.
The Venice Biennale was established in 1895 is now recognised as the oldest, longest running cultural event of its kind, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to each event. Although there are now many other large-scale recurrent exhibitions, none compare to the Venice Biennale in terms of international networking and promotional opportunities.
The 2009 Venice Biennale attracted a record number of 77 national pavilions with a total of 375,000 visitors to the paid exhibitions (Arsenale and Giardini) and an average daily visitor number of 2,223. During the 24 weeks of its running time, the 53rd Exhibition was constantly at the top of the rankings of the most‐visited exhibitions in Italy.
