AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, the Venice Biennale has returned with a bang. The Biennale, which runs until late November, is nicknamed the “Olympics of art” because the work on show is displayed under national banners, and 80 countries have pavilions in three main areas. There are about 30 historic permanent pavilions spread across the large Giardini park, with more in the Arsenale, a historical complex of former military shipyards and arsenals (where the South African pavilion is located), and still others in the city centre. An international exhibition, woven throughout the venues, is curated by a guest curator. In 2022, Italian Cecilia Alemani is in charge, and has included 213 artists from 58 countries.
The Venice Biennale isn’t commercial, so participants are free