2020 Venice Architecture Biennale postponed.
Venice 2020 – “The world is putting new challenges in front of architecture“. Said Hashim Sarkis, appointed curator of 2020 Venice Architecture Biennale. “I look forward to working with participating architects from around the world to imagine together how we are going to rise to these challenges.”
Photo Giorgio Zucchiatti.
The preview, or vernissage, is scheduled for 27 and 28 August. “The new dates of the architecture biennale have been established as a consequence of the recent precautionary measures on the subject of mobility taken by the governments of a growing number of countries in the world,” said La Biennale di Venezia in a statement.
Freespace, Venice Biennale 2018 – Photo by Andrea Avezzù. Courtesy la Biennale di Venezia.
On February 27, during the a behind doors press conference broadcasted on streaming, La Biennale di Venezia president Paolo Baratta did not mention the Corona Virus infection and focused on the contents of the world’s most prestigious architecture event.
During the official presentation, the appointed curator Hashim Sarkis introduced the Biennale main theme – How will we live together? – in a a video from the United States. “In the context of widening political divides and growing economic inequalities, we call on architects to imagine spaces in which we can generously live together.” Said Sarkis. “We need a new spatial contract.”
Courtesy of the Italian Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2018.
Italy is under pressure for a Corona virus outbreak that has infected over 2.700 people and killed over 100. So far major international fair have been postponed including Milan Design Week – rescheduled from June 15-21, international eyewear fair MiDo – rescheduled to July 5-7, and more. At the end of February Milan Fashion week has been froze with leading exhibition such as Giorgio Armani unveiling their new collection behind doors. Iconic Venice Carnival has been scrapped as well.
The virus is now spreading across Europe causing also the cancelation of Barcelona Mobile World Congress and Geneva Motor show in Switzerland. Light+Building, the global fair for lighting design has been rescheduled to the end of September while MIPIM, the world’s leading real estate market event in Cannes, France, has been postponed to June 2-5.
Italy pavilion at Venice Art Biennale 2019 – Photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani, courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia.
