New Zealand at the 2013 Venice Biennale: sneak preview

 A 20-metre-long overhead light sculpture is one of the stunning works-in-progress by acclaimed New Zealand sculptor, photographer and installation artist Bill Culbert for the 2013 Venice Biennale. The light sculpture  “will send gleaming steel chairs and tables tumbling through space in a torrent of fluorescent tubes,” says curator, Justin Paton.

New Zealand’s Biennale artist, Culbert is presenting his works in the atmospheric Istituto Santa Maria della Pietà (La Pietà). This historic building includes a long entrance corridor made famous by its association with Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi. From there, Bill Culbert’s exhibition will unfold through six further spaces, including a small outdoor garden.

“Like many of his installations, Culbert’s new show, Front Door Out Back, will be anchored firmly in the domestic world, featuring common objects such as tables, chairs, wardrobes and plastic containers,” says Paton. “But these objects will also be altered and energised, lifted out of the ordinary, by Culbert’s signature medium – light. An abundance of fluorescent light tubes will draw viewers through the spaces, flowing around, over and often right through Culbert’s furniture and coloured plastic vessels.”

The New Zealand at Venice website www.nzatvenice.com launched today, features the latest news on Culbert’s Venice exhibition, and blogs by New Zealand’s Commissioner for the 2013 Venice Biennale, Jenny Harper; Assistant Commissioner, Heather Galbraith; Curator Justin Paton; other arts commentators and the NZ at Venice team. The Venice Biennale is the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event, involving more than 80 countries. It runs from 1 June to 24 November, 2013.

Creative New Zealand calls upon the staff expertise and support of partner institutions, such as Christchurch Art Gallery, to realise New Zealand’s presentation at the Venice Biennale. This is the third time the Gallery has been a supporting partner for the Biennale. 

Creative New Zealand is also pleased to announce the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa will again be a key partner, providing both a programme of public events and an education programme. Te Papa’s support means that for the first time a comprehensive education programme will be run in New Zealand in association with the Biennale. 

Photo above - Lonely Planet