Curator of Contemporary Art Sunny Kerr visited the 56th International Art Exhibition in Venice in June. The trip allowed him to research contemporary artists at an event that gathers the global contemporary art worlds into one dramatic setting.

Sunny’s favourite exhibition experience at this year’s Biennale, Slip of the Tongue, was curated by artist Danh V? in collaboration with Caroline Bourgeois at Punta Della Dogana / Francois Pinault Foundation. V?’s signature exquisitely sensitive approach to space made this installation a stand out. Another highlight of this exhibition was meeting the Pinault Foundation’s Head of Exhibitions, Marco Ferraris, along with instructor Julie Hollenbach and her class of Queen’s students studying in Venice in Art History 380 (Venice and Its Biennale). Sunny presented a talk to the Venice Summer School students on what curating entails and his role at the Agnes, and, after visiting the Biennale’s main pavilion with the class, led a discussion about interpretations of the show and the intentions of Biennale curator, Okwui Enwezor.

Among other highlights, Sunny was drawn to the work 2008 by Christaodoulos Panayiotou in his Cypress Pavilion solo show titled Two Days After Forever featuring shredded Cypriot pounds acquired when Cyprus joined the Eurozone. In the tradition of artists referring to the Biennale’s host city, Panayiotou also showed handmade shoes created from fake designer handbags sold on the streets of Venice.