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The 54th Biennale di Venezia

WHAT: More than 80 countries will present installations by artists of their choice at their national pavilions. New to the Biennale this year are Andorra, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Rwanda, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and India are appearing for the first time in decades.
WHEN: June 4-Nov. 27
WHERE: The Giardini and the Arsenale, among other locations.
HIGHLIGHTS: Curator Bice Curiger, of Zurich’s Kunsthaus, has organized the fair around the theme Illuminations, loosely inspired by Venetian painter Tintoretto. While she sees the national pavilions as "tools to reflect upon the issue of identity," Curiger relishes bringing artists of different nations into dialogue in the para-Pavilions of the Arsenale.
In 2009 the U.S.’s Bruce Nauman won the Golden Lion for best in show, and this year Washington selected the Puerto Rico-based multimedia duo Allora & Calzadilla, the first time that a pair or collective will represent gli Stati Uniti.
When Germany’s choice, filmmaker Christoph Schlingensief, died of lung cancer at 49 in 2010, Susanne Gaensheimer, director of Museums für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt, decided to curate a show of his work in the pavilion that will include his preliminary sketches for his Biennale entry.
Israel’s Sigalit Landau, who had a solo show of her hypnotic videos at MoMA in 2008, will create an installation relating to water, titled "One Man’s Floor Is Another Man’s Feelings."
labiennale.org

Stay:

Hotel Gritti Palace

Once the private residence of the doge Andrea Gritti, this 16th-century palazzo is a haven of old-world elegance, decorated with sumptuous fabrics and rich wood paneling. Breakfast on the Grand Canal terrace is a treat.
2467 CAMPO SANTA MARIA DEL GIGLIO
39-041-794-611
RATES: From $530
hotelgrittipalacevenice.com

Centurion Palace

Housed in a former Gothic monastery, Centurion Palace boasts exquisite modern design. Guests can sip cocktails in its private garden, and the location — close to Santa Maria della Salute, overlooking the Grand Canal — can’t be beat.
173 DORSODURO
39-041-342-81
RATES: From $480
centurionpalacevenezia.com

Bauer Palladio

This hotel on Giudecca Island has retained the private garden, austere corridors, and internal cloisters of the 16th-century convent it occupies. Yet the rooms are spacious and sophisticated, decorated in warm colors. A huge inviting spa adds to the peace and tranquility.
33 GIUDECCA
39-041-270-3869
RATES: From $426
palladiohotelspa.com

Bauer Il Palazzo

The touch of owner Francesca Bortolotto Possati is evident in Il Palazzo’s decor: gilded mirrors, carved stucco ceilings, and Murano-glass chandeliers. Most rooms in this 18th-century palace overlook the Grand Canal.
1413/D SAN MARCO
39-041-520-7022
RATES: From $688
ilpalazzovenezia.com

Novecento Boutique Hotel

Venice’s maritime heritage is visible in the Far Eastern and North African accents of this bijou hotel’s furnishings. The cozy fireplace, lovely garden, and friendly service keep guests coming back.
2683 SAN MARCO
39-041-241-3765
RATES: From $330
novecento.biz

Eat:

Harry’s Dolci

This Giudecca Island eatery with splendid lagoon views offers Continental cuisine and the same classic cocktails as its sibling, Harry’s Bar. It’s also an art world watering hole, drawing local luminaries.
773 GIUDECCA
39-041-522-4844
cipriani.com/locations/venice

Osteria alle Testiere

Reservations are a must at this nine-table foodie destination. Seasonal ingredients and local seafood come together in an innovative cuisine.
5801 CASTELLO
39-041-522-7220
www.osterialletestiere.it

Caffe Florian

Opened in 1720, Italy’s oldest café is an ideal spot from which to take in the splendor of the Piazza San Marco and watch the world go by. The Biennale was conceived in its Sala del Senato in the late 19th century.
PIAZZA SAN MARCO
39-041-520-5641
caffeflorian.com

Corte Sconta

An art-scenester favorite, this simple trattoria near the Arsenale offers the freshest seafood around, plus alfresco dining under a canopy of grapevines.
3886 CASTELLO, ON CALLE DEL PESTRIN
39-041-522-7024

Ristorante Lineadombra

Behind the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Lineadombra serves modern versions of such traditional Venetian fare as salt-crusted tuna and sea bass. Enjoy the sleekly styled dining room, or take your meal on the terrace overlooking the Giudecca Canal.
19 DORSODURO
39-041-241-1881
ristorantelineadombra.com

See:

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

An unmissable museum, with modern and contemporary masterpieces showcased in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Beginning May 29, it will show Italian Pop and Arte Povera masters from the collection of Ileana Sonnabend.
704 DORSODURO
39-041-240-5411
guggenheim-venice.it

Punta Della Dogana

The newest art site (after Palazzo Grassi) of Christie’s owner François Pinault is currently showing "In Praise of Doubt," featuring many works not exhibited in previous shows of his modern-art collection.
DORSODURO 1
39-041-523-1680
palazzograssi.it

Ca’ Rezzonico

Located in a former private residence where Robert Browning once lived, the museum of 18th-century Venice has a magnificent collection that includes a splendid Tiepolo ceiling fresco.
3136 DORSODURO
39-041-241-0100
museiciviciveneziani.it

Shop:

Al DucA d’Aosta

Men’s and women’s fashions by a host of designers — including Gucci, Burberry, and Paul Smith — make Al Duca d’Aosta an essential fashion destination.
4946 SAN MARCO
39-041-522-0733 (men’s)
39-041-520-4079 (women’s)
www.alducadaosta.com

Giovanna Zanella

In her workshop near the Rialto Bridge, Giovanna Zanella makes brightly colored shoes by hand that are sometimes outrageous and always stylish.
5641 CASTELLO, ON CALLE CARMINATI
39-041-523-5500
giovannazanella.it

La Speziaria de Venezia

Indulge in beautiful soaps and perfumes that are handcrafted by owner Enzo De Loris Strasser.
200 SANTA CROCE, AT THE END OF FONDAMENTA MAGAZEN
39-041-522-6412

"When in Venice ... for the Biennale" originally appeared in the May 2011 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's May 2011 Table of Contents.