Biennale of Sydney Announces Theme and Artists
By The Editors
HENNA-RIIKKA HALONEN, Moderate Manipulations, 2012.
The 19th edition of the Biennale of Sydney, opening March 2014, will celebrate art’s ability to envision future, possible worlds. The director of “You Imagine What You Desire,” Juliana Engberg, hopes to remind audiences that “art is not divorced from the cultural conditions, political, social and climatic environments in which it is generated,” and that a “happy anarchy” is possible through works that inspire and activate imagination.
Artists to partake in the biennale so far include Yael Bartana, Ulla von Brandenberg, Mircea Cantor, David Claerbout, Yingmei Duan, Krisztina Erdei, Douglas Gordon, Henna-Riikka Halonen, Roni Horn, Mikhail Karikis, Laurent Montaron, Agnieszka Polska, Augustin Rebetez, Maxime Rossi, Wael Shawky, John Stezaker, Corin Sworn and Tori Wrånes.
Engberg, director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, was presented with the Australia Council Visual Arts Award earlier this year. Noted for her contributions to the Australian art scene, Engberg has introduced internationally renowned artists to the country including Joseph Kosuth, Barbara Kruger and Pipilotti Rist.
