dAPERTutto/APERT overALL/ APERTO parTOUT/ APERTO überALL

by Harald Szeemann

Whilst maintaining its long-standing traditions, the 1999 Biennale aims to adopt innovative strategies in its choice of artists and in the very organization of the forthcoming International Exhibition of Contemporary Art. The Venice Biennale was the world's first institution of contemporary art, and its unflagging vitality is demonstrated by the numerous innovations this year.

1) Increased Exhibition Space in the Arsenale. Until recently, the Biennale was only able to use the Corderie, but now the exhibition site extends as far as the Isola delle Vergini. And this year we will also be able to use part of the Artiglierie and the sixteenth-century building known as the Tese. Even more new spaces will become available in the future, making the exhibition layout ever more adventurous.

2) One Single International Exhibition. The division between famous artists (exhibited in the Italian Pavilion in the Giardini) and artists under 35 years old (exhibited in the Aperto Section ) has been abolished. What is more, the exhibition of work by the officially-selected Italian artists always used to be held in a special section of the Italian Pavilion, but this year their work will be part of the general International Exhibition that occupies the whole building. This means that young artists, who perhaps in their own countries do not have access to indipendent exhibition space, can participate in a direct encounter with their international counterparts. This "reform" is reflected in the sub-title given to the 48th International Exhibition: dAPERtutto, APERTO over ALL, APERTO par tout, APERTO Uber ALL.
So far, around fifty artists for the world's five continents have been selected, but the search for others continues. The selection is focused on young artists who have been at work over the last ten years, with particular attention being paid to the work of women artists.

3) A further special innovation will be the use of the Tese as the exhibition site for those countries that do not have their owns pavilion. The advantage of this is that all these countries will be gathered together in one spot, and exhibition visitors will not have to chase all over the city. The space available to each country, which varies between 50 and 70 square metres, is of a very precise character and, therefore, it will not be possible to make structural changes - which is obviously something of a disadvantage.

4) The catalogue will come as a three-volume boxed set, covering:
a) the international exhibition;
b) the national pavilions;
c) the various countries not exhibiting in a national pavilion, plus the events linked with the 48th
International Exhibition of Contemporary Art.
The Staff of the section Visual Arts:
Dario Ventimiglia Dirigente
Anna Maria Porazzini Responsabile
Gianpaolo Cimarosti
Roberto Rosolen
Paolo Scibelli
Agnes Kohlmeyer - Rapporti con gli artisti
Cecilia Liveriero - Lavelli Cataloghi e Internet
Harald Szeemann