A Map of the Biennale Locations in Venice
The Biennale de Venezia is an international art event that takes place every other year in Venice. Over 100 countries have pavilions dispersed around the city while there are about 40 permanent exhibition spaces. Countries such as Canada, and Spain are divided into two sections: the Giardini (Gardens) and the Arsenale (Armoury).
The Canadian Pavilion
The Gardens also hosts the main exhibit space themed "Illuminations". Here is Lindsay's review of the South African Project featured in the exhibit:
David Goldblatt, a South African photographer, created an incredibly interesting exhibit in the main pavilion called Ex-Offenders. Drawing from his own experience as a victim of crime in the city, David met, interviewed, and photographed ex-cons at the location of their crimes. “I don’t believe that many of them are inherently evil,” says Goldblatt. “They came to their crime for a whole lot of other reasons.” Broken homes and a lack of access to education were common themes amongst the convicts that may have contributed to their incarceration. “They’re at a tremendous disadvantage from the start”.
The stories were captivating and tragic. One image depicted a woman at the scene where she strangled her son. She had an extremely difficult childhood, and was molested repeatedly from the age of only 3. Her son became addicted to Tik at the age of 13, repeatedly burgled her home and terrorized her. She couldn’t take it anymore, so she strangled him.
Blitz Maaneveld, one of the ex-offenders
Another picture was of KhulelwaPali, a woman who was arrested in her hometown for breaking into shops because she could not afford food. She was arrested at the scene of the photograph after she broke the arm of a child who caught her stealing a DVD player from a neighbor. She turned her life around after prison, but still struggles to make a life for herself.
KhulelwaPali, another ex-offender
This exhibit was thought-provoking, insightful, and really made you realize how fortunate our upbringings were in comparison.
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