Works by more than five hundred artists are on display at this, the second Biennale of Florence. A board of selectors composed of forty-nine critics and headed by American art historian John T. Spike invited the individual artists to participate. Unlike a contemporary art fair, such as Bologna Fiera where commercial galleries rent space to show their own selected artists, the Biennale represents the "critics choice". 
Naturally the largest contingent are the Italians although the committee says they have artists representing thirty-two different nations. The exhibition is divided into three sections, Painting, Sculpture and Works on Paper with figurative art at the forefront. Conceptual artists and video artists seem not to have met with the conservative tastes of the critics. So although the Biennale is being touted as a revolutionary change to the artistic life of Florence which is inextricably bound to perpetuating the glories of the Renaissance, the art selected strongly reflects traditions inherited from the past. Many of the artists are clearly reinterpreting the work of 20th century masters such as Cezanne, Picasso, de Chirico and Chagall. However the majority of people prefer to view art of this ilk and attendance at the Biennale has been so far impressive.   These are pictures that anyone can appreciate as the eye of the beholder is informed in a logical manner. Absent are the gimmicks and shock tactics that you may find at the Bologna Fiera. 
 

JOHN T. SPIKE born in New York and resident of Florence since 1989 is known in the art world as a renaissance scholar, author of important monographs dedicated to artists such as Masaccio and Fra Angelico. As Director of the Florence Biennale he demonstrates that art historians do not always have to be stuck in the past. The first exhibition he organized was of post-war American art from  the Guggenheim Museum, New York shown at a Kentucky museum in 1973. Spike has said "contemporary art is in my blood" and his involvement in the Biennale would seem to prove it.

Also participating in the Biennale are five other internationally recognised art  historians Veronika Birke, from the Albertina of Vienna, Guy Congeval Director of the Musee de Beaux-Arts in Montreal, Stefano Francollini Director of the Davanzati museum, Francis Naumann from New York and Ortega Coca Teresa of the University of Valladolid. Together they have selected three works from each category and awarded prizes to the winning artists.

A relatively unknown painter Giuseppe Rocca who lives and works in a small village in Calabria took first place in painting. His oil on canvas 'The Paper Dove' (see top) depicts a figure hunched over an origami paper bird whilst a bird of prey hovers above. The only other element in the painting is a pomegranate. Dramatic lighting enhances the artist's technical virtuosity and the judges must have taken into consideration the striking originality of the composition. 
First prize for sculpture was awarded to Moldovan Virgilius  (Austria) and in the Works on Paper category, the Australian Paul Boromeo was named the winner.

Paul Boromeo  'Glenice' 1st prize Work on Paper		Moldovan Virgilius    'Rollender' 1st prize Sculpture

Of course in a show this large, with over 1,500 works of art to view there is bound to be 'something for everyone' and our own Editor's choice fell to the following :
 
 

clockwise from top left:

1. 'Harmony of Opposites', Georgina Hunt (Great Britain)
2. 'Homage to Tiziano', Julia Gazetopoulou (Greece) 
3. 'Il Tempo rotola la vista', Cunsolo, Giovambattista (Italy) 
4. 'Historia de una mujer que murio', 1998, oil on canvas, cm 100 x 120, Pedro Raul Hernandez Andujo (Mexico) 

Also worthy of note were artists : David Austin (USA), Ronald Christ (USA), Branislava Duranovic (Yugoslavia), Elias Harissis (Greece), Frieda Fellinger (Austria), Fernandez Minano Luis (Spain), Luis Gonzalez-Adalid Cabezas (Spain), Lee Gabrielle Wu (USA),  Eamon O'Kane (Ireland), Sergio Pasetto (Italy), Maria Grazia Raffaelli (Italy), Carmelo Sammartino (Italy), Nancy Thayer (USA) and Mary Swanson (USA).

For information : telephone Arte Studio, 055.219262
email : press@artestudio.net
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