BiTES's intention is to delve into the complex system of the Venice Biennale, the oldest and most significant of the currently active exhibitions, from an interdisciplinary perspective that explores its depths, intersections, narratives, and theoretical aspects. The focal point of interest includes various aspects related to exhibition and the underlying methodological approaches: from historical and economic analysis to conceptual analysis; from the involvement of space (at urban, architectural, exhibition, and performative scales) to the complex set of exhibit design strategies; from the incubation of critical perspectives to the role of rewriting the audience's experience.
This complexity of historical narratives and theoretical provocations is currently at the center of scholarly debate, in which the Venice Biennale emerges as an ideal ground for research that aims to extend to an international examination, starting from the local roots of this institution.
This complexity also corresponds to a fragmentation of studies on the Venetian exhibition. The project's premise is the observation of the absence of comprehensive and integrated studies on the Biennale within a significant range of investigation, both vertically and horizontally, considering the dynamics in their entirety. The research unit aims to address this by merging the expertise of art historians, architectural and urban theorists, photography and multimedia experts, exhibition and scenography specialists, critics, and designers, as well as experts in writing and linguistic systems. This interdisciplinary approach corresponds to the multidisciplinarity of the Biennale system.
The objective is to examine the long history of the Biennale by traversing some of its historical and theoretical nodes, not merely reconstructing its stories but also considering it as a vector of innovation in research and a catalyst for critical-methodological perspectives. This is a significant theoretical goal that calls for the redefinition of disciplines.
Address:
Università Iuav di Venezia
Dipartimento di Culture del progetto
Venezia, Santa Croce 191, Tolentini
date/time interval:
(April 8, 2020 - )