The ‘not to be missed’ Liverpool Biennial has had its press launch on Friday (14 September) and will be open to the public today for the weekend. ArtLyst was there and will continue with first hand coverage of all of the major events on offer over the ten week run of Britain’s only National Biennial. The event takes place every two years, as the city of Liverpool plays host to an extraordinary range of artworks, projects and a dynamic programme of events. It is the largest international contemporary art festival in the UK.
What to expect
The Liverpool Biennial unfolds with a programme of exhibitions and projects that lead to a rediscovery of this famous North Western city. Newly commissioned and existing artworks and projects will be presented in diverse locations, including unusual and unexpected public spaces as well as the city’s galleries, museums and cultural venues. The cultural organisations in Liverpool work together in partnership to create an unparalleled context for the presentation of contemporary art and culture.
The Liverpool Biennial has commissioned leading and emerging artists to make and present permanent and temporary public artworks as well as long-term community-based projects. There is an integrated research programme of learning, talks and events creating a dynamic year-round programme.
This years’s Biennial Commissions feature a new installation by Israeli artist Oded Hirsch, a sculptural presence bursting abruptly through the city’s streets in the heart of Liverpool’s shopping district, Liverpool ONE, while Danish and Norwegian duo Elmgreen & Dragset present their new work I’m on the Guest List Too!, questioning popular culture and social behaviour and examining the hierarchy of values and meritocracy established by celebrity-culture (FREE, Liverpool ONE, Liverpool, 8 September – 25 November 2012).
The Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s only Biennial of Contemporary Art. Sally Tallant the Artistic Director and CEO explains; The Liverpool Biennial was conceived and founded it in 1998 by James Moores (with Jane Rankin Read, Lewis Biggs and Bryan Biggs) and presented the first Liverpool Biennial in 1999. The 7th edition of Liverpool Biennial takes place 15 September – 25 November 2012.
For its 7th edition, Liverpool Biennial will explore the theme of hospitality, inviting artists and thinkers to bring forth new understandings for our increasingly globalised and complex times. The biennial exhibition, The Unexpected Guest, comprises 60 international artists, and the iconic Cunard Building will be used as a venue for the first time. Highlights of the programme include: Sky Arts Ignition Series, in partnership with Tate Liverpool, will present a major public commission by acclaimed US artist, Doug Aitken, which will be installed on Albert Dock in a temporary structure designed by David Adjaye; American superstar Rhys Chatham, renowned for his large-scale performance works will present a concert as part of the opening weekend; one of Argentina’s most established and internationally renowned artists, Jorge Macchi, presents a commission in which an object is wedged precariously in a public location; Israeli artist, Oded Hirsch will present a work which will burst through the floor of the Liverpool ONE shopping centre; and Liverpool’s famous Cunard building being opened to the public for the first time to provide an unusual exhibition venue.
Photo: Liverpool Biennial Organiser Sally Tallant © ArtLyst 2012
Artists currently announced include:
• Doug Aitken with David Adjaye
• John Akomfrah
• Hurvin Anderson
• Janine Antoni
• Keith Arnatt
• Kader Attia
• Yael Bartana
• Sylvie Blocher
• Andrea Bowers
• Sophie Calle
• Rhys Chatham
• Libia Castro and Ólafur Ólafsson
• Enrico David
• Eugenio Dittborn
• Elmgreen and Dragset
• Fischli and Weiss
• David Weiss
• Dora Garcia
• Gilbert and George
• Simryn Gill
• Mona Hatoum
• Fritz Haeg
• Oded Hirsch
• Thomas Hirschhorn
• Nadia Kaabi Linke
• Markus Kahre
• William Kentridge
• Anja Kirschner and David Panos
• Jakob Kolding
• Jiri Kovanda
• Suzanne Lacy
• Runo Lagomarsino
• Jorge Macchi
• Dane Mitchell
• Sabelo Mlangeni
• Mark Morrisroe
• Patrick Murphy
• Ahmet Ögüt
• Field Operations
• Trevor Paglen
• Christodoulos Panayiotou
• Martin Parr
• Pedro Reyes
• Rhizome
• Pamela Rosenkranz
• George Shaw
• Pak Sheung Chuen
• Mikhael Subotzky
• Superflex
• Sinta Tantra
• Althea Thauberger
• Mark Titchner
• Jeanne van Heeswijk
• Mark Wallinger
• Jemima Wyman
• Ming Wong
• Kohei Yoshiyuki
• Akram Zaatari