Venice, Italy – Day two of the Venice Architecture Biennale. Our first visit was fun, but not fun enough that the twins wanted to come back.
But I insisted. After all, we started with the less prominent of the two venues. We still had not seen the main attractions, which are in the country-specific pavilions in the Giardini della Biennale. It is the site of the exhibitions since the Biennale’s inception in 1895. Here are some of the highlights.
The Spanish Pavilion had an exhibit on Becoming which was the fan favorite among 8-year-old boys. We went here first and the twins did not want to leave.
The Netherlands got things going with a replica of John and Yoko’s 1969 Bed-In for Peace in Amsterdam. (Uplifting!) As a sign that the architects might be taking themselves just a little too seriously, a bed is described as “a horizontal architecture for protest, work, production and reproduction.” From there, they move on to the future of the sex industry. (Disturbing! Not pictured.)
Next, we enjoyed a bit of Wonderlandish whimsy at the Swiss Pavilion with the exhibition entitled House Tour.
I loved the exhibit in the Russia Pavilion. It focused on trains and train stations, including a video shot from the window of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Imagine watching this for 7 days and you have a pretty good idea of what it’s is like.
Finally, we ended at the Belgium Pavilion. I will leave you with this uplifting and optimistic exhibit entitled Eurotopie. Here’s hoping!