SCENE & HERD IN VENICE AND BASEL
DAVID RIMANELLI FROM VENICE
I meet my dates on the terrace of Bauer Grunewald – the best hotel in Hamburg, except its on San Marco. We dont tarry because the birthday party for Francesca von Habsburg (Archduchess of Austria to you), which doubles as a book launch for Canadian artist Janet Cardiff, is apparently in full swing at the Palazzo Volpi.
Luxurious and desperate: Are these adjectives not adequate in evoking the atmosphere during the Biennales opening week? But hey, the weathers great, a glorious contrast to the 2003 inferno.
The evening’s highlight came when British Council Director of Visual Art Andrea Rose’s very sweet toast brought real tears to Gilbert’s eyes and the room erupted in a spontaneous standing ovation. READ ON www.artforum.com/diary/
Coming next: Nicolas Trembley on Annette Messagers Golden Lion and Claire Bishop on the national pavilions
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