XIII Florence Biennale | ON THE SPOTLIGHT
23-31 October 2021 | Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy
The Florence Biennale is the major contemporary art and design exhibition in Florence and one of the world’s leading contemporary art exhibitions. Artists and designers from 78 countries participated in the latest edition, which has been held under the patronage of the European Parliament, Italian Commission for UNESCO, Italian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tuscany Region, and Municipality of Florence, and was attended by more than 10,000 visitors.
The XIIIth Florence Biennale, which will take place at Fortezza da Basso (Florence, Italy) from 23 to 31 October 2021, will engage participating artists and visitors in rich artistic and cultural program activities. Aside from the main exhibition, there will be collateral events, performances, workshops, conferences, and lectures relating to the new edition theme: Eternal Feminine | Eternal Change: Concepts of Femininity in Contemporary Art and Design.
Furthermore, each participating artist will have a dedicated page in the XIIIth Florence Biennale’s Official Catalog and will compete for the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” International Award, conferred by an International Jury, as well as for other Special Awards.
Moreover, within the framework of the Florence Biennale, the “Lorenzo il Magnifico Lifetime Achievement Awards” (Art) and the “Leonardo da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Awards” (Design) are conferred to individuals who have reached pinnacles of artistic achievement for their contribution to culture: Marina Abramović, Gustavo Aceves, Refik Anadol, Sauro Cavallini, Christo & Jeanne-Claude, David Hockney,
El Anatsui, Arata Isozaki, Salvatore & Wanda Ferragamo, Ferrari & Pininfarina, Gilbert & George, Anish Kapoor, Elsa Peretti (Tiffany & Co.), Paula Scher, and Franco Zeffirelli are among the recipients of the past editions. The Lifetime Achievement Awards recipients are invited as guests of honor to the biennial, during which they meet the participating artists and receive the award in a public ceremony.
HORIA MANOLACHE
Romanian photographer Horia Manolache, who already participated in the XI Florence Biennale 2017, will also take part in the next edition, which will be held at Fortezza da Basso from 23 to 31 October 2021.
Horia Manolache’s work addresses social issues: discrimination, marginalization, and societal collapse. The preproduction behind his projects became a fundamental part of his process. Doing the research around each story and building the relationships with each subject are critical steps in his workflow. He meticulously composes the narrative of each story through imperative visual elements within the frame. Human expressions, rich contextual environments, and contrasting conceptual elements are essential to his perspective.
His work was exhibited, among others, at Corden Potts Gallery San Francisco, Rayko, Osnabrück Cultural History Museum, Cannery Gallery San Francisco, Sutter 625 Gallery, Le Magasin de Jouets Gallery, Photoplace Gallery, Florence Biennale.
In June 2015, among other 11 photographers, including Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, Eadweard Muybridge, and Carleton Watkins, he was presented at DeYoung Fine Arts Museum as part of the selection of photographers who have made San Francisco their subject from 1850 to the present.
He was nominated for the “Felix Schoeller Photo Award” – Best Work by an Emerging Photographer, for PDN’s ’30s in 2016 and for Forbes ’30s under 30 in Romania, and he earned the 1st place at International Photography Awards – Editorial/Personality, 1st place for Book proposal at Prix de la Photographie Paris, fourth place at Florence Biennale, honorable mention in the group exhibition “The perimeter of the world” at Rayko Gallery, 1st Place Winner at Longford art photography – Expressions portrait competition.
His work was exhibited at Corden Potts Gallery San Francisco, Rayko Gallery, Osnabrück Cultural History Museum, Cannery Gallery San Francisco, Sutter 625 Gallery San Francisco, Le Magasin de Jouets Gallery, Photoplace Gallery, Florence Biennale, The Red Victorian San Francisco, Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town. Some of his projects were published in “Rangefinder” (editor’s choice), “Huffington Post,” “Forbes,” “Lenscratch,” “Fotorelevance,” “Feature Shoot,” “Wecallitstich,” “Photographer’s Forum Magazine,” “The Optimist” and others.
ANNA RUBIN
XIII Florence Biennale 2021 – Participating Artists: Russian artist Anna Rubin will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso.
Anna Rubin is a professional artist based in Florence, Italy. Anna’s fine art paintings glorify beauty through Still-Life, featuring meaningful compositions of antique and modern objects. Anna also creates captivating figurative artworks. Anna Rubin’s fine art is recognized by art investors, international art galleries, and prestigious art auctions. Drawing from her European roots and traditional upbringing founded on a deep appreciation of culture, history, and aesthetics, Anna employs Old Masters Technique to create fascinating artworks in Still-Life, Figurative and Conceptual genre.
Moved by memories, emotions, and the need to express her feelings, Anna started painting in 2002, with a series of works, all painted in oil on Belgium Linen, using the Old Masters Technique of painting in layers. In 2004, Anna started painting her first collection as a professional artist. Rather than compromise tradition and artistic integrity for commercial opportunism, Anna has steadfastly remained true to her style and quality, persisting in creating artwork that accurately reflects her European roots, interpreted with breathtaking 21st-century realism. In doing so, she labors over each painting for several months to achieve a result not replicable by modern mass production methods.
This authenticity has simply accelerated her commercial success. Her first paintings were sold to different private collections in Queensland, Australia, in April 2005. Anna’s first solo show opened in February 2006 and sold out to numerous collectors in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. The second solo show of collection, “Les Objets d’Amour,” was sold out in February 2008 at Richard Martin Art Gallery in Sydney, Woollahra.
Aside from her solo shows, Anna participated in numerous successful collective exhibitions, was a finalist, and received awards in Art competitions from 2006 to 2018. In June 2008, Anna celebrated her début in the Australian secondary art market. One of her earlier works, “Pisces from Reef” (2004, $38,000), was sold over the price estimate ($58,000) by “Deutscher & Menzies Art Auction” in Sydney June 2008. Another of Anna’s artworks, “Plaisir de Liberté,” successfully sold over the price estimate by “Deutscher & Menzies Art Auction” in Sydney June 2009. In June 2012 at Menzies Important Australian and International Art Auction, the artwork “Forgiveness” sold for A.U. $19,990. Same sized artworks were sold in 2006 for A.U. $6,600. On average, Anna Rubin’s art value tripled over the 14 years of her professional career from 2006 until 2020, being in high demand by corporate and private clients in Australia and internationally. Anna celebrated her 10th year as a professional artist at Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, in June 2016 with a retrospective solo exhibition featuring her celebratory collection “Les Objets de Beauté.” All of her artworks were successfully sold nationally and internationally. In January 2017, Anna exhibited a small collection of her artworks in Singapore Contemporary Art Show. Following her successful début in the Asia Art market, she exhibited at Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong in March 2017 with great accomplishment. From 2017 – 2018 Anna has worked on major commissions for the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and for the International Corporate Low Firm Art Collection.
In May 2019, Anna moved to Florence, Italy. Her artistic talent and achievements have been reverenced and recognized, so much so that from September 2019, she has been given a studio/gallery in the historic 14th century Palazzo Ridolfi at the Accademia di Beli Arti di San Pietroburgo in Firenze, where she is creating her new body of work.
FABRIZIO CONSTANZA
XIII Florence Biennale 2021: Artist and Designer Fabrizio Constanza from Guatemala will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso. Fabrizio Constanza is an awarded artist and designer. His body of work includes furniture, conceptual art, functional art, lighting, and interior architecture. His professional training is in industrial design, which he perceives as a creative process applicable to diverse industries. Fabrizio’s design process has been applied in projects, which go from architecture and interior design to consulting in commercial and private projects. His work has been published in D.M. Design Magazine, Design Milk, Design You Trust, Yahoo News Business, San Francisco Gate, Timesunion.com, ID Magazine and Architecture, and Design Colorado, to mention a few. Currently, Fabrizio is the Director of Fabrizio Constanza Design, a Design consultancy company.
Considered as one of the 45 most influential individuals in Guatemala by CentralNews.com.gt, Fabrizio Constanza received several recognitions and acknowledgments, such as Gold A’Design Award in 2013 and Platinum Adex Award in 2016.
BRITT FISHEL AND ARTISTS
American performer Britt Whitmoyer Fishel will take part with her dance company in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso. Britt Whitmoyer Fishel was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she studied Cecchetti from an early age. She attended East Carolina University, and upon graduating with a BFA in Dance, Fishel moved to New York City and pursued performing and choreographing professionally.
There, she joined Mariana Bekerman Dance Company but left in 2009 in order to establish and develop bnw:dance. As artistic director of bnw:dance, Fishel led company tours throughout New York City, Richmond, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Chicago.
In 2010, the company was selected for a summer residency in London, England, and created and presented Interrogation with the help of London composer James Reindeer.
She dissolved the company in 2013; however, she and Reindeer continue to collaborate a decade later. Fishel went on to receive her MFA in Dance (Screendance) from the University of Michigan in 2014. Her screen work has been seen in Greensboro Dance Film Festival, Y’allywood Film Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, EnCore Dance on Film Festival, DanceBARN, Dance for Reel, FilmFest by Rogue Dancer, Women in Dance Leadership Conference, as well as several gallery exhibitions across the country.
Fishel’s 2017 film, billet-doux, was published in the biennial edition of Women CineMakers (Berlin), and her research (Epoch, GRIN) has been published in the 7th and 9th Issue of The Dancer-Citizen. Most recently, Fishel presented research entitled Dance is for Everyone: Digital Consumption in a Post-Information Age at Dance Studies Association’s 2019 Annual Conference at Northwestern University. Describing her work, ArtsATL reviewed, stating: “The final moments of site., which enmeshed dance and video, were stunning.” DIYdancer describes Fishel as having “a sharp eye for film and passion for her research.”
Most recently, The Dance Journal ( PhiladelphiaDANCE.org) stated: “Britt Fishel and Artists’ excerpt from ‘Distaff’ is a sardonic expose about the continued objectification of women in culture and on the dance stage. Three women in black fetish bikinis and a bare-chested male engage in lifts, lunges, and acrobatic dance with an aggressive edge that makes you want to see the entire work.” During her five years in Atlanta, Fishel was part-time dance faculty at Clayton State University, the Opine Dance Film Festival creator, and a founding member of Atlanta Dance Collective. Fishel currently resides in Philadelphia, PA, where she is on the Dance Faculty at Drexel University and Bryn Mawr College. She continues to make both live performance and dance films independently and collaboratively under Britt Fishel and Artists’ umbrella.
CHI-YU LIN
Taiwanese artist Chi-Yu Lin (Five Trillion) will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso.
Chi-Yu Lin, Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Taiwan Normal University, is Chairman of Taiwan-Japan Art Association, Director of Taiwan Art Association, Founder and Director of Jinyee Art International Company.
About his pseudonym “Five Trillion,” he states,
“it is derived from the hard work of the hands, which can deepen the soul. With open hands, ten is a full number.
The “five” is just maintained in the center, and there is an unbiased, balanced and harmonious mood. “Trillion” is a big number with the meaning of “infinite.” My creation must have abundant vitality and continuous energy, just like the important Chinese thought concept, “Tai Chi,” which is the most primitive order in the universe. State forming the origin of all things, yin and yang, circulate and complement each other, yin does not grow alone, yang does not grow alone, cathode yang grows, anode yin grows: mutual dependence, transformation, growth and decline, the law of natural change, expecting to conform to the sky “Tao,” the auspicious of the endless movement of heaven and earth.”
AXEL BECKER
The artist Axel Becker, born in Frankfurt am Main in Germany, creates works of art that are intended to contrast to the overload of information that people are confronted with every day. He usually creates three-dimensional pictures in a minimalist style that captures the viewers’ gaze and directs it to a small number of memorable objects. Through this focus, the viewer experiences a well-deserved break from the constant flood of information and impressions from the hectic everyday life. Simple, clear, and artistically demanding, as Becker himself describes his art.
Axel Becker’s artistic career began over 20 years ago. He has taken part in numerous art exhibitions in Germany and abroad, including Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia. His art was also influenced by Josip Diminic, a well-known Croatian sculptor and graphic artist, under whose guidance he refined his artistic skills in the summer of 2018. In 2019 he was awarded the 3rd prize in the International Competition of the Zagreb Art Fair. In addition, Becker has already qualified for the Biennale in Florence in 2021.
Recently Axel Becker has also published his new artist catalog. On 16 pages, a diverse selection of ten artworks is presented, giving the viewer an insight into his broad range of work. The newly published catalog will be available to visitors during the ARTBOX.PROJECT Barcelona 1.0. Furthermore, his sculpture “Sculpture – Beginning front,” made of painted fiberglass, will be digitally presented at the same time.
CAMERON YARROW
XIII Florence Biennale 2021 – Participating Artists: 17 years old British photographer Cameron Yarrow (Cameron Yarrow Photography) will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021
at Fortezza da Basso.
He states: “I have been immensely fortunate to have been able to join my Dad on photography trips all around the world. Until around 2 years ago, I would simply treat these adventures as a safari while hoping Dad got what he wanted. A couple of years ago, I started to use some of the cameras and took pictures on these trips. More recently, I have become increasingly passionate about Wildlife Photography and relish any single opportunity to photograph breathtaking animals.
In the summer of 2018, we embarked on our annual trip to River Creek in Alaska to photograph bears during the salmon run. We would take a seaplane every morning at 4am to where we thought the bears could be. In previous years we had been extremely lucky with the number of bears we saw; however, this time, it was different. We were told we were too early and that the salmon hadn’t arrived yet. Due to this, our chances of seeing bears went from 95% to 5% very quickly. It had been a quiet few days, and we were not even sure it was worth taking the plane on our last day. It was pouring with rain, and we sat on the river bed for around 4 hours, just waiting. Suddenly a bear came out of the bushes and dashed into the water to catch a salmon. It really caught me by surprise, but I followed it with my camera and just hoped that I could get some sort of shot. Later that day, when we got back to our lodge, I looked to see
if I got anything. I was very excited because although I had enjoyed taking photos in the past, I had never really taken anything that was worth showing anyone before that day. I posted ‘Rush’ on my Instagram and uploaded it to the National Geographic ‘Your Shot’ website. Within a couple of weeks, I received various messages asking if I was doing prints; this was incredibly exciting and flattering. I was also very grateful that it was voted ‘Top Shot’ on National Geographic.
Another highlight was photographing the tigers in Ranthambore, India, during the Easter break of 2019. We spent a lot of the time driving around looking for the tigers, and after the first three days, I had nothing. But the next day, we got extremely lucky. Throughout the week, I struggled with there always being distractions in the backdrop of the frames, so to find a tiger sitting in a cave with its head popping out was a massive moment. Similarly to the bear image, this was another moment where patience was rewarded. It is fantastic to know this image hangs in many homes in the U.K. and U.S.
In the Summer of 2019, Kunsthuizen Gallery in Amsterdam approached me about showing some of my photos in their Gallery and a premier in the AAF. I am extremely grateful to them for this opportunity and their faith in me.
I have also been invited to exhibit at the Florence Biennale 2021, which I am incredibly excited for”.
KIRSTEN HAMMOND ANDERSEND
Danish artist Kirsten Hammond Andersen will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso. “In Kirsten Hammond Andersen’s paintings, you will find a balance between abstract decorative and plastic figurative elements with a delicate, dreamy and super-aesthetic approach. They are painted by an artist who can both characterize the human being and create an atmosphere of beautiful patterns, elegantly swung lines, and composed color scale in a dynamic balance. Kirsten Hammond Andersen’s paintings are a tribute not only to women but to the imagination and to the dream. To dare to be herself. Absolutely and unconditionally”. Tom Joergensen, “101 Artists”, 2019 PSH Publishers, page 10. She states: “My ideas start when I feel a sense of calmness, and I want to capture those calm moments or moods. Then I create visual emotions and transform them into patterns, shapes, or colors by using different materials: watercolors, charcoal, ink, or oil pastels to create my visual expression in varied ways and to experiment with different techniques. I am fascinated by creating these private experiences of a world and its mediation.
My inspiration and passion are the feminine forms seen depicted in all my works.
I like to add analytical elements to my work which questions the rituals and behaviors of society”.
MIKHAIL KRASNENKO
XIII Florence Biennale 2021 – Participating Artists: Russian artist Mikhail Krasnenko will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso. Born in 1952, Krasnenko studied at the Rostov Art College from 1970 to 1976. He graduated from the Moscow Printing Institute 1976-1982. From 1982 to 1984, he worked in Berlin. Since 1984, he has been a teacher at the Rostov Art College. His works can be found in museums and private collections in Russia, Germany, France, Croatia, and Brazil.
LUCY MATTOS
Argentinean artist Lucy Mattos will take part in the next edition of the Florence Biennale, which will take place from 23 to 31 October 2021 at Fortezza da Basso.
Graduated from the National School of Fine Arts, Prilidiano Pueyrredón, Counselor graduated from Holos – Official Counseling Institute, Lucy Mattos is a polyhedral artist and a professor.
With extensive experience and international recognition, Lucy Mattos’s work transcends the figure of women from a symbolic and strong place at the same time. Her works range from monumental sculpture to artistic jewelry. Among other materials, she used bronze, white metals, wood, stone, marble. In the eighties, she created the polyester-intra light technique, which allows light to come from inside the works, breaking with traditional sculpture’s paradigm implying external illumination.
In her sculptures, there is an original force that is perceived in each work: the essence of Mother Earth. Interest in social issues and concern for the environment are reflected in her works.
Her museum, inaugurated in 2012, is located in San Isidro, where her works are exhibited permanently. Other works of her can be found around the world in museums and private collections in Brazil, Mexico, Panama, the United States, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.
OPEN CALL COMPETITION
Submission start: March 10, 2021
Submission deadline: May 10, 2021
FREE SUBMISSION
Florence Biennale, Art Market Magazine, and Lens Magazine joined forces for an International Competition to identify four images that will be used in the XIII Florence Biennale’s integrated communication.
The Art Fair will be held from 23 to October 31st, 2021, at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, under the European Parliament’s high patronage.
The artists and photographers participating in the competition are invited to interpret the XIII Florence Biennale theme: “Eternal Feminine | Eternal Change. Concepts of Femininity in Contemporary Art and Design”.
The contest winners’ works (Two artists and Two photographers) will be used for the integrated communication of the event (mass media,
internet, outdoor advertising, etc.) and exhibited in a dedicated space within the XIII Florence Biennale.
Simultaneously, finalists’ works (25 artists and 25 photographers) will be projected in rotation within the same space.
The winners will also receive the Guests of Honor recognition during the event.
THE COMPETITION JURY PANEL:
Dafna Navarro
CEO & Founder, Editor-in-chief,
Art Market Magazine & Lens Magazine
Jacopo Celona
Director of the Florence Biennale
Fortunato D’Amico
Florence Biennale Curatorial Board
Loredana Trestin
Florence Biennale Curatorial Board
In the event of a tie, the President of the Florence Biennale, prof. Pasquale Celona will participate in the voting to choose the winner/s.
• SUBMISSION START: MARCH 10TH, 2021
• DEADLINE OF THE CONTEST: MAY 10TH, 2021
• FINALISTS AND WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT: JUNE 1ST, 2021
SUBMIT YOUR ART
florencebiennale.org/open-call-competition
