The POOL NYC: New Ideas at La Biennale di Venezia

I seemed to frequent the Academia Vaporetto stop more than any other. This was partially due to the conference I was attending, partly because this was a good central stop for visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Palazzo Grassi and the new Punta Della Dogana, and also as it allowed us to access this part of Venice without fighting the crowds around the Piazza San Marco.

Academia Bridge
Venice, IT

Each time I got off the Vaporetto, I noticed these little red stickers on the ground that simply said POOL NYC. They appeared to be leading in the general direction of the Palazzo Grassi, but where and for what was unclear and a bit intriguing.

Kristina Norman, Gold Soldier from installation After-War, 2009
Estonian Pavilion
53rd La Biennale di Venezia
Venice, IT

As we headed toward the Palazzo Grassi, we visited the Slovenia, Luxembourg, Estonia, Cyprus and Iranian Pavilions organized as part of the 53rd La Biennale di Venezia Collateral Events. While Kristina Norman's complex installation After-War in the Estonian Pavillion was particularly moving and compelling, we found both the Cyprus and Iranian Pavilions somewhat disappointing.

Installation view
Cyprus Pavillion
53rd La Biennale di Venezia
Venice, IT

I have to admit that the large black and white photographs of snakes in the Cyprus Pavilion and the signs "Beware of snakes" probably had a lot to do with this. I was however, intrigued by the way they used their space. Rather than utilizing the existing architecture of the space, the exhibit designer constructed natural plywood walls that were actually quite simple and sculptural and although I had fallen in love with the traditional Venetian brick and stone interiors was a welcome change.

The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

After encountering more red Pool NYC stickers we came upon The Pool NYC banner. The banner was somewhat reminiscent of the ones that they used at outdoor pools when I was growing up to direct you towards the proper swim classes, but in this case was directing you towards more art.

The POOL NYC
Courtyard
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

The POOL NYC was located in a delightful Italian courtyard adjacent to the magnificent formal gardens of the Palazzo Malipiero. The walls of the two story gallery space were whitewashed, and arranged with a delightful selection of tiny abstract and word collaged paintings. While there were no text panels or labels within the exhibition, ample printed material was available on the tables and desk in the courtyard.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

The POOL NYC was another of these unofficial Biennale exhibitions. As I read through their material we discovered that the work on exhibition belonged to Torinese artist Tania Pistone. For this exhibition, Pistone has created a body of work inspired by the writing of the 19th Century Swiss writer Robert Walser who was known for his playful texts that hid his existential fears.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

Tania Pistone has created these minature works as a means to challenge every millimeter of space producing a compact and essential pictorial plane.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

Using dense layers of colour, tints, glue, paper and varnish Pistone creates intricate abstract collages as a means to absorb life without being disturbed. In much the same way that Walser hid behind his words and his work throughout his lifetime.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

Tania Pistone's exhibition was the final of five exhibitions organized to coincide with the Biennale and presented by The POOL NYC in Venice, IT. Other artists' exhibited included: Eteri Chkadua, Fabio Viale, Daniel Glaser & Magdelena Kunz and Andrea Salvatori.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

I found these small works intriguing, beautiful and almost jewel like. They were colourful and playful, but at the same time quiet and precious. The intimate scale forced me to get close, to examine, to look and to think about the connection between her marks, the colours, and the words, as well as the relationship between the work and the exhibition space.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

The POOL NYC is a brand new itinerant gallery founded by four friends and colleagues (Luigi Franchin, Kristin Gary, Fabrizio Moretti and Viola Romoli) from different parts of the world, all of whom bring divergent backgrounds and experiences but share a love of contemporary art.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

I met Viola Romoli, who passionately explained the concept, inspirations, hopes and dreams surrounding their new gallery venture. Based in New York City, The POOL NYC does not have an official permanent gallery space, as the world is their space. Founded earlier this year, their goal is promote avant-garde artists through a network of international exhibitions. As they state in their Manifesto they are ..."everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The necessity to be in one place and then quickly in another is the dominating influence in this century, and The POOL NYC embraces that peripatetic nature."

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

The idea of a nomadic gallery has engaged my imagination for years. After finishing my MBA, I should have been focusing on securing a nice corporate position with stock options and other benefits, instead I put my energies into creating newARTspace. My initial ambitions were more regional than international, however newARTspace was designed to bring contemporary art into the community. The plan was to find temporary unique, interesting and forgotten venues and have artists respond to the space by creating new or reworked installations. The idea was great - I had both start-up funding, initial venues and artists, but my timing was off as the community had just changed its structure for arts funding. So, I put this idea on the back-burner and headed off to another museum director / curator position.

Tania Pistone, Untitled
July 28 - August 8, 2009
The POOL NYC
San Samuele , Ramo Malipiero
Venice, IT

As I look at the changing ways in which we market, exhibit, sell and promote contemporary art, I often wonder if the traditional permanent bricks and mortar gallery space is really the best way to go? So, I was very intrigued and inspired by what Viola and her colleagues are doing and was glad that I was able to meet her and see this, their first incarnation of The POOL NYC before it moves on to its next venue.

Viola indicated that they were headed to India - which seemed very brave and adventurous - and I noticed that they will be back in Venice at the Lido di Venezia, September 2 - October 14, 2009 for OPEN 12: The International Exhibition of Sculptures and Installations. I wish Viola Romoli, her colleagues and artists tremendous success and know I will be following their activities on their transnational art adventures.

PAK Sheung Cheun, Installation view, Making (Perfect) World, 2009
Arsenale, Campo della Tana
Collateral Exhibition
53rd La Biennale di Venezia
Venice, IT

As I wandered the streets and alleys of Venice discovering the multitude of official and unofficial exhibition venues in storefronts, churches, courtyards, second, third and even fourth floor walk-ups, in decrepit buildings, stunning palazzos, corporate offices, military outposts, hotels and floating in the canals it opened up creative possibilities in thinking about how we look at, experience and exhibit art. I have never been convinced that the permanent white box is the only and best way to go, now my mind wanders over the countless possibilities that exist if one is willing to take a chance and step away from the expected.