Exhibitions to see in Venice during the Biennale

On Saturday 23rd April, the Venice Biennale kicked off its 59th edition, postponed for a year due to the pandemic. As usual, the city vibrates for six months to the rhythm of art through the main exhibition and the new projects unveiled in the national pavilions, but also numerous peripheral exhibitions. From Marlene Dumas and Bruce Nauman in the spaces of the Pinault Collection to Anish Kapoor at the Galleries of the Academy and the Palazzo Manfrin, passing through the works of the greatest figures of surrealism brought together by the Peggy Guggenheim collection, discover the exhibitions not to be missed this season.

The Tom of Finland Foundation presents treasures of LGBTQ+ art at Studio Cannaregio

In 1991, Touko Valio Laaksonen (alias Tom of Finland) died, a great designer known for his homoerotic illustrations and paintings. Starting in the 1950s, at a time when homosexuality was still forbidden and condemned in the West, and it’s representations censored or even destroyed. Although the works of the Finnish artist have long circulated in secret within the gay community, they have been able to become part of the heritage thanks to the creation of the Tom of Finland Foundation in 1984, dedicated to the conservation and expression of his work, but also that of many LGBTQ+ artists. A colossal work of which we discover a glimpse at Studio Cannaregio in the north of Venice, in the exhibition AllTogether supported by the Diesel label and curated by the French collective The Community, where the works of more than 80 queer artists – most of whom have donated to the foundation – are reunited. A real symbol for names that are often overlooked, most of whom are making their first entry into an exhibition space of this size. Among the most familiar works are, among others, the provocative paintings of Jim Shaw, the intimate shots of the photographer Florian Hetz, a painting of the musician and queer icon Seth Boggart or a very explicit marble sculpture by Marcello Lupetti, representing a reversed pair of buttocks. Often erotic and raw, these works lift the taboos on an artistic practice that has long remained in the shadows in a homophobic society. In parallel, a second selection of works will be presented from 8th May at the permanent space of the collective The Community Center, in Pantin.

AllTogether, a group exhibition from the collection of the Tom of Finland Foundation, until 26th June at Studio Cannaregio, Venice. From 8th May to 26th  June at The Community Centre, Pantin.

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Published: 2nd May 2022

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