4th Biennale Gherdëina
knock on wood
18 Jul - 01 Oct 2014
Сurated by Luca Beatrice
The expression "knock on wood" has to do with luck and with warding off evil; everyone feels the need to protect themselves from misfortune in some way. This sort of good mood surrounds the opening of the 4" Biennale in Ortisei and the Val Gardena, with its focus on contemporary sculpture. Five artists were invited to participate: two locals, Bruno Walpoth and Willy Verginer, who are however known around the world, and three artists from different places: Chris Gilmour is an English man who lives in Udine; Sonia Leimer was born in Merano but works in Vienna; and Velasco lives between Milan and Lake Como.
For the first time since the Biennale has been held, the artists were asked to create public sculptures that would interact with the historic town centre of Ortisei, dialoguing with residents and tourists rather than imposing themselves as if they had been dropped into town from outer space. There were no restrictions as to subject or theme, but the material used had to be wood, even though the artists were not all experienced in working with this material.
Artists:
Chris Gilmour (GB)
Sonia Leimer (IT)
Velasco Vitali (IT)
Willy Verginer (IT)
Bruno Walpoth (IT)
The expression "knock on wood" has to do with luck and with warding off evil; everyone feels the need to protect themselves from misfortune in some way. This sort of good mood surrounds the opening of the 4" Biennale in Ortisei and the Val Gardena, with its focus on contemporary sculpture. Five artists were invited to participate: two locals, Bruno Walpoth and Willy Verginer, who are however known around the world, and three artists from different places: Chris Gilmour is an English man who lives in Udine; Sonia Leimer was born in Merano but works in Vienna; and Velasco lives between Milan and Lake Como.
For the first time since the Biennale has been held, the artists were asked to create public sculptures that would interact with the historic town centre of Ortisei, dialoguing with residents and tourists rather than imposing themselves as if they had been dropped into town from outer space. There were no restrictions as to subject or theme, but the material used had to be wood, even though the artists were not all experienced in working with this material.
Artists:
Chris Gilmour (GB)
Sonia Leimer (IT)
Velasco Vitali (IT)
Willy Verginer (IT)
Bruno Walpoth (IT)