Photo: AFP
RNZ's Lynn Freeman returns to the Venice Biennale and is knocked out by Damien Hirst's Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable
British artist Damien Hirst has thrown down a mighty gauntlet to the artists exhibiting at the 2017 Venice Biennale. He’s upstaged them with his two monumental exhibitions in the city - Treasures from the WRECK of the Unbelievable.
They opened in two massive spaces in different parts of Venice just a month ago. I spent much of today entranced by the work. It’s going to be a mighty hard act to follow - our Lisa Reihana excluded of course!
Hirst has imagined the spoils of a long lost vessel recovered and put on display. There are hundreds of objects he’s created from pretty much every material you can think of. Some are tiny ornaments, through to a colossal sculpture three storeys high.
The giant striding headless male figure reminded me in some ways of the revered sculpture of David over in Florence, which I finally got to see just two years ago. I had the same sense of awe.
Damien Hirst's Mickey Mouse Photo: RNZ / Lynn Freeman
The photos here can’t possibly do Hirst’s new work justice. It’s such a tiny sample of something years in the making. There was even a video of some of the giant works being ‘recovered’ from the ocean. No expense spared here.
I saw one of his encased sharks at the Tate in London many moons ago and thought it overrated. Having heard nothing of him in recent years I figured he no longer had anything to say. So wrong. I have reading to do and time to spend looking back at the photographs to get those deeper meanings. Today I’m just loving the sense of being mind-blown.
Venice is entirely the right venue for it too. Having wandered around so many lanes and alleyways over the last couple of days, I am once again impressed by the way Venice is both proud of its classical architecture and heritage, and deliberately over the top especially with contemporary art and craft.
Hirst also blends the classical and the OTT. His coral encrusted Micky Mouse and Transformer made me laugh. His golden female torso and cat are unnervingly beautiful. His warrior women in peril held me captive.
Of course I’m here for the Biennale and was also again in search of work that can be glimpsed before the official opening for the public on Friday.
I was in luck. A giant golden tower caught my eye from atop the Ponte dell Accademia in southern Venice. On closer inspection, it was indeed a Biennale artwork by one James Lee Byars. At this stage that’s all I can tell you, other than it’s big, shiny and guarded by a security officer at all times.
Doors were closed at other venues with Biennale banners over them today. But from Wednesday media are allowed in. Wednesday though is when Lisa Reihana has her grand opening at the Arsenale. It’s going to be something and that’s where I’ll be.
Photo: RNZ / Lynn Freeman
Lynn Freeman’s coverage of the Venice Biennale is made possible by Creative New Zealand.
