The President of Venice Biennale, Paolo Baratta, and the Artistic Director, Christine Macel, announced the title of the upcoming 57th edition: Viva Arte Viva.

Christine Macel has explained his project as follows: In a world full of conflicts and jolts, in which humanism is being seriously jeopardized, art is the most precious part of the human being. It is the ideal place for reflection, individual expression, freedom and fundamental questions. It is a “yes” to life, although sometimes a “but” lies behind. More than ever, the role, the voice and the responsibility of the artist are crucial in the framework of contemporary debates.

According to Macel, Viva Arte Viva is also an exclamation, an expression of the passion for art and for the state of the artist. The upcoming Biennale is designed with the artists, by the artists and for the artists. It deals with the forms they propose, the questions they pose, the practices they develop and the forms of life they choose. That is not to say that the audience will be secondary: Every week, during the six months of the exhibition, an artist will invite viewers to an Open Table (Tavola Aperta), where audiences can engage in conversation with an artist over lunch.

No artists have been announced for the show yet, but Macel’s statement asserts that the exhibition will feature works belonging to different generations of artists, while exploring specific cultural areas such as Latin America, Asia and The Middle East and paying particular attention to Europe up to its eastern boundaries and to Russia.

The full statement can be found HERE