The Biennale Arte Festival Venice Part. 1 Fiona Hall in the Australia building

Zok and I decided (sort of randomly) to go to Venice for five days.

We didn't really go away last year because we took that road trip in the U.S. early in the year.  I did my side trip to the U.K. on my own while he was on tour.  

Venice was a marvel, and I felt pangs that I hadn't researched the city properly before going.  Zok booked tickets to the Opera weeks in advance, and I researched the Biennale Arte festival before we left but that was all the advancing we did.

 

 Possibly, no matter what research I had done, I would still have had only a limited amount of energy because we had hot, humid weather the entire trip.  I did my best but I find heat very, very taxing. Taking in all the art up for the Biennale under the bests of circumstances would have been a challenge.  I am always grateful to see even bits and pieces.

The Biennale had exhibits all over the city as well as a main concentration of exhibits at 'Arsenale' and 'Giardini' the Giardini has the permanent structures for participating countries. The buildings are purpose built by each country. I had read that Australia opened their building in time for the festival (the first 21st century building added to Giardini).  Although the impression I had from the article was that the building (a modern cube) was inside a derelict shell ala 'grand designs) But instead, you walk along and each country has a unique building, along a sort of boulevard. This boulevard was how we noticed that we had only been in the floating part of Venice, which meant very little vegetation.  Whereas, here there were trees, and small parks.

   I really liked the exhibit there, by Fiona Hall-

I do not like taking too many photos within a museum or installation so here is a link:

Fiona Hall 

I thought (incorrectly) that we would pass exhibits as we wandered around Venice, but they were actually a bit hard to find, more like a treasure hunt.

The island were Arsenale is located, did have installations all over the island- 

like this- piece hanging in a dry dock

 

 

Konst på Svedmyra (del två) Barbro Johansson

I love this tile work on the elevator.  I am always impressed when some object that has to be present like an elevator is made beautiful.  The tiles reminded me of a peacocks feathers.

The artist that covered the elevator, also did the tiled mural down in the ticket hall. As I mentioned in the other post, there was only a short line about who made these.  While the other art was meant to remind there was forestland nearby, there was nothing written about these pieces.  But I liked them best.

Konst på Svedmyra Tbana (Del ett) Torgny Larsson

Art behind the tracks is fairly common, on these outdoor, platform style stations.  Surprising to me, I haven't seen any that have anything to do with the trains movement.  I am thinking of graffiti in NYC that I have seen where when the train passes, the art looks in motion, like flip book.

I was surprised when I translated the artist plaque at this station that all but two lines were about these leaves.  Apparently at the right time of day (although there is that house quite close) the shine will shine through these leaves and be as intricate as when you hold a leaf up to the sunlight so you can see all the veins.

  My attention was taken by the tile on the elevator which I am putting in the next post.

 

Konst på Enkede Gård Tbana

Often, the artist plaque has almost no information, but every once in awhile, the artist plaque has a very long explanation.

This one did, stating that the design you see on the wall and on the statues is meant to represent the cornea of the human eye, or the corneal nerves to be exact.

 It states that the artist wants the viewer to look inward, look back, and to look at the here and now.

 I had thought, before looking at the plaque that the statues had something to do with sport or the Olympics.

This station is definitely one of the coolest on the Hagsätra line.

Not my favorite but close.  Sadly I doubt the artist expected so many to simply ignore the art, at this station the plaque was down the stairwell, and as I stood there to take a photo, I noticed a woman, noticing my actions, and she came back and read it, and started to look around.  On her face at least by my reckoning, it seemed she noticed the statues for the first time.

I get this reaction a lot when I drag people along with me to see a station.

Zok also believes I am the only person we know who has been to each station.  Is it my desire to be alone? to be in motion? to know what lies at the end of the line?  I don't know, but I have always ridden on trains and buses, just to see where they went.

Konst på Fruängen, Gubbängen och Skarpnäck T bana

I like to think of myself as organized.  I make lists, I use technology to back up those lists, I give myself a talking to whenever I catch myself being scatter brained and yet truthfully I forget both the lists and most of my own advice.

In action, the most I can say of myself is that I aspire to be organized.

I know that the only way to make sure and see all of the potential art in a Stockholm subway station, is to walk the length of the station, inside and outside. By outside, I mean by exiting through all exits and looking at the station from the street side.

If per chance you find yourself with just a spare six minutes during a transfer, the most likely scenario is that something will be missed.

I was at this end station (Fruängen) where I saw this piece by Fredrik Landergren

I even walked out with the crowd to look at the ticket hall- yet still I missed these-

faces Fruängen 

because I did not completely exit the station.

But sometimes there is only a sculpture (or in this case two, like sentinels one on each end of the platform).

 Sometimes the artist is famous and has a lot of information on the web, sometimes I can find nothing at all.

This artist has pieces in the modern museum as well

Ragnhild Alexandersson

This last artist Richard Nonas is an American with art sculptures all around the world, I still do not know how the artists are picked for the stations, but the range of artists is impressive.

I think as with most of my aspirations I am as equally determined as I am ready to give up if another offer comes my way.

 

Konst på Tekniska högskolan

 

This station is spectacular but also crowded at most times, also it is a transfer station to the commuter trains and buses.

The art was created by Lennart Mörk who also does work with theatre, and film.

 "The theme of the elements and the laws of nature. Moreover, decorating with science theme with Christopher Polhem, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Copernicus and Johannes Kepler." 

I had to irritate many people to even get the photos that I did get.

Konst på Gamla Stan Tunnelbanna

I think I have avoided putting up some stations because I like some more than others but perhaps someday I will really want a full record so I am going to continue on.  I found a new map that lists not the train stations but the artist at each station.  This will take the guess work out of which stations have art.  I am a bit more 'pepp' as the Swedes would say now that I have this helpful aid.

This station is always, always busy I do not think I have a good overview of what it looks like, as it also has a division between the directions and the lines, meaning that you have to go down and up stairs to cross over.  The hallways are always crowded as well.  Gamla Stan or the old town is probable what you would see if you only had a few hours in Stockholm.  The neighborhood is extraordinary to look at when you can actually see up a street, but most months it is like being at a festival and all you can do is try to navigate through the throngs of people.  The mural is beyond the platform a bit, and on my green line home, but I didn't notice it for a long time as it is mostly visible by approaching from the other direction into the station.  The rest of the designs are mostly on the floor.

The station art speaks to the history of Gamla Stan, the roots of Christianity in Scandinavia, and a connection with Christianity in Scotland (see how much you can learn?)-

Some of the tiles are done in the 'Terrazzo' style which is chips of marble set in concrete and then polished.  My understanding is that the designs are meant to give tribute to a famous tapestry in Nidaros Cathetral:

Nidaros Cathedral 

Nidaros dates back to the 1100s when the King of Norway became a Christian and later a saint, and had Diocese in the Orkney Islands:

Okney Islands and Nidaros 

 Gamla Stan is essentially the oldest complete part of Stockholm, and it is where the Storkyrkan, the oldest church, whose current bishop is a woman.