"OPEN'99 2nd International Exhibition of Sculptures and Installations"
1999-09-01 until 1999-09-30
Arte Communications, Venice Council's Office for Culture and Entertainment, Lido-Malamocco-Alberoni District Council
Venice, , IT Italy

This exhibition of monumental sculptures and large installations set in the open air, will take place not only inside the Excelsior and Des Bains Hotels - the two greatest hotels of the island - but also within a 2-sqkm area which includes, the Des Bains park, Piazzale Santa Maria Elisabetta and Lungomare Marconi. The exhibition is organised by Arte Communications, Venice Councils Office for Culture and Entertainment as well as Lido-Malamocco-Alberoni District Council. It will be open from the 1st until 30th of September 1999.

The participating artists have been selected by a committee of international critics presided over by the French art critic, Mr. Pierre Restany. The artists come from 20 different countries: China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Greece, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Norway, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and the U.S.A.

The catalogue is realised by Arte Communications and will be distributed during the exhibition at the Information Office OPEN99, Lungomare Marconi n. 33, near to Cinema Palace at the Lido of Venice.

At its second edition, OPEN has been received with outstanding success, which is partly due to the participation of 20 countries - instead of just 13 last year. Among the artists, Ivan Theimer will present his Hercules With the Obelisk, an 8-meter-tall work; Theodoros, with his 12-meter-long hourglass; Marianne Heske, with her 17 ton olivine stone that until now has been sleeping in Norway for 4000 years since it was born from a rock avalanche. Now it has been awakened by the artist and it will continue its sleep until it dissolves with the sand at the Lido. Many of the artists have created their works especially for OPEN999.

It is to be pointed out that some of the artists from the last years edition: for example Costas Varotsos is presently taking part in the Venice Biennial APERTO, as representative of Greece, and Beverly Pepper is presenting Homage to the Triangle at the Thetis in Arsenale Nuovissimo.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Italy

Other Important Exhibitions in Italy