There is a unique charm to the Nappe at the Northern Arsenale of Venice: a place where the past intertwines with the future, and ancient stories are rewritten through the lens of contemporary art. From November 17 to December 8, 2024, the Arte Laguna Prize returns here with its 18th and 19th editions. This double chapter unfolds an ever-evolving narrative, curated this year by Giulia Colletti and Chiara Canali. It is not just an exhibition, but a mirror of our era, capable of reflecting the multiple trajectories of our time. The two editions offer complementary perspectives on art and the world, like two sides of the same coin. With the 18th edition, Colletti invites us to immerse ourselves in a continuous present, exploring the theme of active nihilism. The selected works do not succumb to the weight of today’s crises but instead seek new pathways and vectors to confront these challenges. It is an art form that delves into the deep connection between memory, identity, and the environment, taking the audience on a journey between reflection and hope.
Arte Laguna Prize, 2024 Finalists’ Exhibition. Installation view
On the other hand, the 19th edition, curated by Canali, shifts its gaze toward the future, focusing on the use of technology as a creative tool. Artificial intelligence, with all its contradictions, becomes the focal point of works exploring the relationship between humans and machines. But this is not just about technology: sustainability emerges as a powerful theme, expressed through recycled materials and site-specific interventions that demonstrate how innovation and responsibility can walk hand in hand. Here, artists like Jake Tan and Sheng Chengcheng find a space to engage with our time, blending creativity with commitment. Yet, what truly stands out are the faces, stories, and personal trajectories of those who made this event possible. Yukang Tao, winner of the 18th edition, combines introspection and ecological sensitivity in a practice that reflects a deep respect for nature. Then there are Mario Valdès, Jingyi Wang, Andrea Papi, and Yvonne Mak: each of them, with their unique paths, contributes to mapping what it means to make art today, balancing local roots and global perspectives.
Mak Yvonne, Imprint, 2024, 300 x 300 x 15 cm
This edition of the Arte Laguna Prize has collected over 20,000 works from more than 80 countries. A plurality of voices crossing ten categories—from painting to land art, photography to digital art—goes beyond traditional divisions to create an interdisciplinary dialogue. Each piece is a fragment of a larger mosaic, a journey that unites tradition and innovation, physicality and technology, nature and culture. In the immersive installations of Pérez-Salas Tania or the videos of Sarhaddi Sahand, the human body once again takes center stage, explored in its limits and possibilities. In a society increasingly dominated by the virtual, these works reconnect us to the tangible, to the physical, and to a sense of belonging we often lose. With free entry, the exhibition serves as a true laboratory of thought—a chance to reflect on urgent themes such as the climate crisis, transnational identity, and the role of artificial intelligence. But it offers more, as Laura Gallon, founder of the prize, explains: «What I love about Arte Laguna is meeting the artists. I’m so grateful to have them here—almost 240 of them. They fill my heart because it means we’re all motivated to do something for contemporary art».
Esther López Navarro (Spagna), 1999. Winner of the Video Art category with the work Hello, My name is Blue.
Thus, the Northern Arsenale, a crossroads of stories and visions, once again becomes the ideal stage to celebrate art and the complexity of our time. It is a place where the past meets the present and opens to the future, where every work is a window into a world in constant transformation. Because, as every good traveler knows, the journey is never just a destination: it is a dialogue, an adventure, and a discovery.
Info:
ARTE LAGUNA PRIZE. Finalists’ Exhibition of the 18th and 19th Editions
Curated by Giulia Colletti and Chiara Canali
Nappe dell’Arsenale Nord, Venezia
17/11/2024 – 8/12/2024
Open daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Free entry
artelagunaprize.com
Independent artist and curator. Founder of No Title Gallery in 2011. I observe, study, ask questions, take informations and live in contemporary art, a real stimulus for my research.
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