Top biennales around the world – from Venice to Shenzhen – taking place this year
1. 58
Number of editions of the world’s oldest biennale, the International Art Exhibition, better known as the Venice Biennale, which opens this month. Expect to see works from 79 artists, including big names such as Kahlil Joseph and Julie Mehretu.
11 May to 24 Nov
2. 1
Duration, in years, of the osloBIENNALEN, which kicks off its first edition this year. It aims to upend conventional biennale models with an evolving programme that will slowly unfold in Oslo’s public spaces over its five-year run.
From 25 May
3. 4
Length, in months, of the Singapore Biennale. With a theme of “Every Step in the Right Direction”, this year’s edition aims to use art to explore the importance of taking that first step in humanity’s struggle for betterment.
22 Nov 2019 to 22 Mar 2020
4. 1987
Year the Istanbul Biennial, one of the longest-running in the Middle East, was first launched. Highlighting the ecological concerns of today, this edition is titled “The Seventh Continent” and examines the impact of human activities on our planet.
14 Sep to 10 Nov
5. 1.65 million
Total number of visitors who have attended the past seven editions of the Bi-City Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture, which is jointly presented by the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Hong Kong and was founded in 2005.
Dec 2019 to Mar 2020
SEE ALSO: By the numbers: Tate Britain’s “Sixty Years”
This article was originally published in the May 2019 issue of SiverKris magazine
