Feedback release: BORDERS 2020
ITSLIQUID International Art Fair
Venice | July 23 – November 29, 2020
THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space | Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello

ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with Venice Events and ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association, is proud to announce the astonishing success of BORDERS Art Fair 2020 that occurred in Venice at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, from July 23 to November 29, 2020.

BORDERS Art Fair 2020, curated by Arch. Luca Curci, has presented more than 300 artists from more than 40 countries, with a great selection of paintings, photographs, installations, sculptures, video art, architecture, design and performance art during its three appointments: the first one divided into two sections, BODIES+CITIES SKIN and Venice International Art Fair 2020 (July 23 – August 21), then FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES (Sept 03 – Oct 02) and last but not least, FUTURE LANDSCAPES (Oct 15 – Nov 29).

Never as this time the concept of the exhibition seemed to be epochal: since several months, the humankind coexists at a distance to stay closer. The new invisible borders generated by the Covid-19 are creating new ways of living everyday life, new human connections, re-thinking common spaces and entire cities. Could the new “borders” be the solution? We have invited artists, architects and designers to be inspired by this new era, exploring the connection between desires, needs, fears that brings humankind to change, to transform and to evolve our inner world.

In five months BORDERS Art Fair 2020 has gathered a lot of personalities from the artistic scene: international artists, designers, architects, art dealers, art lovers, collectors, curators and art worlds’ professionals. The festival focused on the concept of “borders”, between the soul and the body, the human being and the city, the city and the ground. It analyzed the idea of human and urban borders, how people live them and how they are modified in contemporary society. Every human being lives in a world in which the limits, the borders, shape their attitudes and behaviors, limiting the freedom and creating a sense of alienation. The human being reacts breaking the limits and finding a new way of life. We imagine a world of “liquid cities”, where differences create new possibilities instead of being social barriers.

BORDERS Art Fair also aimed to discover the interpretations of borders between built and unbuilt geographical contexts, the complex spatial mechanisms within contemporary cities and territories, to understand these underlying cultural philosophical, political and aesthetic value systems that influence the production of architectural form as a thin surface that divides and connects the inner places with the outer spaces.

BORDERS Art Fair 2020 started on July 23 at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and on July 24 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, with the two joined events BODIES+CITIES SKIN and Venice International Art Fair 2020. The participation of artists and audience was unbelievable. Venice International Art Fair’s concept analyzed the relationship between body and space, and the hybridization between identities and cultural/physical/social/urban settings, and it perfectly melted with BODIES+CITIES SKIN’s research about the need of wearing the city like a second skin. City’s body, as the human body, is in constant evolution, and this mutation follows the direction of human being development and it is a clear and true statement of cities changing time.

During the opening event of the first appointment, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello was highly enriched by the artworks of many creatives coming from all over the world, like the Ron Miller duo from Berlin, presenting huge canvases, creating a marvellous contrast between the XVI century palace and the very contemporary style of the artworks; Eva Marc’h from France, who presented her “figurative abstract” spontaneous works; Lidea Hajjar from Lebanon, with her “Limitless Limit” style paintings, in which her hand wanders free over the canvas, evoking lots of emotions; the Belgian artist Brigitte Van Laethum, which artworks reflected her long experience as a professional decorative painter, and came out from her memories of the Lebanese ancient churches; Blair Treuer whose textile works represented her ‘outsider’ role as a white woman in a traditional Native American community.

At THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, Nathalie Serero, of French origins and based in Italy, presented two mixed media works on aluminium, made by inks, resins, natural pigments, acrylic and small objects. The canvases of Patricia Petapermal and Cecilia Ibeth Alvarez Moreno fascinated the visitors, by exploring the connections between humanity and nature, and between men and their imagination; the mixed media sculptures of the polish artist Raf Tarnawski wanted to bring order and understanding of basic values from aesthetics and beauty; for Louise De Buck, from Belgium, imagination, fantasy, magic, aesthetics and emotions are combined in the subconscious with the experiences of reality, thus creating a unique version of life.

The second appointment of the festival, FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, took place at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space on September 03 and at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello on September 04. At THE ROOM the visitors admired the photographic series of Mick Inger and Danielle Benvenuto. The first one represented Venice city’s landscape during the 2019 high tide, and the second one centered her work on self identity, multiple personalities and the connections with the others. Among the figurative paintings exhibited, Olga Georgitsia’s canvases focused on the modern society and the influence of mass media, and with their strong colors were very similar to the smooth atmosphere of the surreal virtual video of the Japanese artist Nao Sakamoto. There were also many abstract paintings exhibited in both the venues, for example the ones of Aude Gourichon O’d, Christel Van Hemelrijck, Chun Chieh Chang, Martina Della Rocca and Alexandra Kordas – different from each other, but all very powerful and expressive.

During the opening at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, the visitors attended a series of performances about the relationship between human body and identity, and the idea of “borders” between them and the outside world. In the amazing Sala dei Concerti, Paolo De Falco, italian film director and artist, told us about the travels that influenced his films; in the Sala della Pace Massimo Crivelli presented his haute-couture handmade dresses, creating a beautiful fusion between fashion and art, and a splendid contrast with the XVI century frescoes of the palace. Speaking about fashion and design, we had also the presentation of the new collection of the italian brand 12PM, with its manufactured jewels: a mixture between the typical forms of the Victorian age and the symbolism of flowers that distinguishes Japanese culture.

The final appointment of BORDERS Art Fair 2020, FUTURE LANDSCAPES, opened its doors on October 15 at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and on October 16 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello. The exhibition wanted to be a starting point to reflect on the macroscopic and microscopic transformations that are occurring in our lives. The limits determinate human behavior and actions, everyday, and they redefine everyone’s identity in the relationship with space. The human beings, and the artists especially, were now called to transform the borders in new possibilities, and the differences in opportunities of change and dialogue.

Among the artists who aimed to generate future landscapes without mental and physical borders, Zazu Swistel, Rainer Pierson, Annette Werndl and Marie-Pierre de Gottrau with their colorful abstract and semi-abstract canvases. Erwin Rios‘ works were strongly linked to the current events, since they were about the concept of integration and migration, both political or economic. The Algerian-born Swiss painter Farid Izemmour exhibited a series of abstract artworks composed by a calligraphic style and he continues to explore this ancestral art by constantly renewing it through explorations of lines and textures. Rodd Alt catched his visions and inner demons on large canvas surfaces, producing images open to ambiguous interpretations: he defines his art style as “Cryptop” and his artwork as “imperfect, inconsistent and immediate… stuff for psychoanalysts”. Heidrun Feistner‘s works wanted to be multi-layered, ambiguous, alterable. A change of perspective often changes the character, the expression of a face, many stones are living in a single stone; she often cut sequences into the stones – like in a film – and whatever she did, the sculpture remains self-contained and homogeneous. Last but not least, the photographies of Yiran Wang, an “image maker” who studies the complicated relationship between humanity and nature in the context of historical and cultural background, were incredibly inspiring. As a storyteller, her work serves as a portal to distant yet familiar places. By investigating the physical impact of human activity on Earth, her work aimed to scrutinize and observe our role in nature in a poetic, yet provocative way.

At THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, the Machina Imaginis collective participated with a steel machine similar to a robot with buttons, knobs, lights, sound and key elements which the visitors could play with, and that was built on purpose for this exhibition. Rolf Berte and Sharlinee Ceniceros Toscano presented their interesting and innovative projects: the German engineer Rolf Berte with the “Earth-Can Project” wanted to encourage viewing the Earth from the perspective of an extra-terrestrial, as a kind of children game depicting the past, the present, and the future of the Earth in a continuous evolution. The architect Sharlinee Ceniceros instead, from Mexico, explained us her “Los Parques del muro” project, which take advantage of the residual areas of the ‘famous’ border wall between Mexico and the USA through the creation of parks and public spaces open to everyone.

The opening event at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello was also delighted by a book presentation and a series of live performances. We hosted the professors Olivia Longo and Andrea Iorio, from the University of Brescia and from IUAV Venice, that explained us the studies behind “Boundary Landscapes”, a book based on the idea of ‘boundary’ as a meeting place and an exchange channel, where plural identities can be mixed together in a new way to see the world. Then, the performances closed the event. The four pieces presented by Donatella Vici, Salvatore Cammilleri, Francesca Nesteri and Arianna Ilardi were all about the relation between body and space, between the body and its transformation in a distorted reality. The aim, for all of them, was always the attempt of breaking the mental and physical chains that block us, and overcome the borders.

During the three appointments of the festival, Luca Curci had the pleasure to live interview the artists that came to visit our venues from all over the world. Through these talks, we had the chance to know something more about each creative and about their style and artistic approach. They truly helped us to better understand the artworks that were exhibited, and to make our events way more special and interesting.

---

COVID-19 Protection Concept – ITSLIQUID Group

The health and safety of our staff and visitors are of predominant importance to ITSLIQUID Group. This Protection Concept governs how we intend to operate after Italy’s lockdown has ended, the rules that will be applied inside the exhibition spaces and how these will be implemented in practice. Read more.

---

ABOUT US

ITSLIQUID is a web based information platform, founded in 2001 by Luca Curci, dedicated to world wide distribution of information about calls for entries, exhibitions and events at some of the world’s leading art galleries, museums and foundations selected. ITSLIQUID has already built a readership of more than 250.000 qualified subscribers. Among them architects, designers, artists, collectors, art critics, curators, dealers, and other personalities of the International art, architecture and design world. It provides advertising services, press office services for events and projects, articles and specials published on the website, media partnerships services.

During the last 20 years, ITSLIQUID Group has became a cultural hub between creatives, exhibition spaces and art lovers. Among our international partners, Art Now Fair, Art Vancouver, Design Tokyo, INDEX Qatar, INDEX Saudi, The Big 5 Construct Dubai, The Big 5 Construct Qatar, Photo LA Los Angeles and international magazines like Art Style. ITSLIQUID Group supports some of the most important no-profit organizations, like UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, SSCS – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, One Tree Planted, The Ocean CleanUp and Plastic Oceans, with the goal to increase public awareness about environmental issues. Click here to find out more.

ITSLIQUID GROUP includes a section dedicated to the organization of international art events, managing exhibitions of painting, photography, video art, installation and performance; it organizes solo and collective shows, art residencies and international contests. Its object is to use new technologies to globalize the language of art, to connect artists working in every part of the world.

ITSLIQUID Group manages a variety of art spaces all over the world; among them THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space in the heart of San Marco Square in Venice and different historical buildings, THE LINE Contemporary Art Space in the London city center and other different partners worldwide. Since its beginning, the group has organized more than 250 events all around the world, involving more than 5.000 artists, in more than 60 international venues in Italy, USA, Canada, UK, Spain, France, etc. Most of the last events have been realized in museums (CCCB – Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona in Spain, NCCA – National Center for Contemporary Arts in Moscow, etc.), galleries and private foundations.

ITSLIQUID is based on fluidity, motion, connection and accessibility. Making things easy to do. Welcome.

OUR LOCATIONS

THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, located in San Marco square, in the heart of Venice is available to host solo show and group exhibitions of the most talented emerging and established artists, designers and architects selected by our professional team among the numerous show participation requests.

Overlooking the unique San Marco square, THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space presents a rich program of exhibitions, talks, meetings, workshops and courses about art, architecture, design and fashion with architects, designers, artists, collectors, art critics, curators, dealers, and other personalities of the International art, architecture and design world. Being part of our program is an exciting opportunity to improve your network and get new inspirations.

THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space is a fascinating and prestigious venue where our professional team will be at your disposal to assist you, offering a unique exhibition experience, giving you the opportunity to display your artworks in Venice, one of the most suggestive cities in the art world, and broadening your artistic career and exhibition background.

Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello is one of the most known palaces of the Renaissance in Venice. It is an historical building dated back to the 16th century, and it has been owned by several noble venetian families, as demonstrated by the frescoed ceilings, the artistic stuccos and the fine furnitures that enrich its rooms. The Palace welcomes visitors with its beautiful private garden on the ground floor, and then it gathers the guests in its large first floor salons, in which past and present dialogue together. The restored Old Masters’ frescoes and the contemporary art masterpieces that are periodically shown in the exhibitions hosted here, make Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello the perfect location for the balance between old and new, between ancient environment and contemporary art, architecture and design.

Today the building is managed by ACIT Venice – the Italian-German Cultural Association – which is considered one of the most important intercultural associations in Europe. Thanks to the ACIT unceasing cultural activity, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello has nowadays frequent collaborations with the Goethe Institute and with other local and international institutions, maintaining its ancient reputation. Because of these relations, it presents a huge program of memorable art exhibitions, conferences, congresses and concerts. Among the last institutional exhibitions, its participation in the 58th Venice Biennale with the Guatemala pavilion, the Dominican Republic pavilion and the Grenada pavilion. ITSLIQUID Group already had the pleasure to held some festivals and exhibitions in Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, as MORPHOS Festival and FUTURE IDENTITIES Festival, both in 2014.