EXHIBITION REVIEW: ANIMA MUNDI 2024
ITSLIQUID International Art Fair
Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello
Palazzo Pisani-Revedin
Venice | April – July, 2024

ITSLIQUID Group in collaboration with ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association, is pleased to announce the great success of ANIMA MUNDI – ITSLIQUID International Art Fair, from April 12 to July 04, 2024, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and at Palazzo Pisani-Revedin, during the same period of the 60th Venice Biennale of Art.

ANIMA MUNDI 2024, curated by Arch. Luca Curci, has presented a wide variety of artists from more than 60 countries with more than 900 works of painting, photography, installation/sculpture, video art, architecture, design and performance art during its three appointments: RITUALS (April 12 – April 26), CONSCIOUSNESS (May 10 – May 24), VISIONS (June 07 – July 04).

In three months, ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL 2024 has been a liquid cultural hub between creatives, exhibition spaces and art lovers, visited by an audience of hundreds of people, artists, curators, art collectors and the art world’s professionals and personalities.

The festival focuses on the concept of ANIMA MUNDI, which according to several historical cultures, religions and philosophical systems, is an intrinsic connection between all living entities on the planet, which relates to the world in a similar way as the human soul is connected to the human body.

ANIMA MUNDI is the invisible energy behind all the natural and artificial elements that allow the planet to live. Thanks to the hidden connections of ANIMA MUNDI, all the ecosystems of the Earth, before and after the appearance of mankind, found their equilibrium, their ways to live and to develop themselves, to transform and to evolve. All the beings of the planet, plants, minerals, and animals are permeated by a secret force that has always stimulated human thought and research.

ANIMA MUNDI ART FAIR 2024 began with RITUALS: the event, which took place on April 12 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, opened with Mashiro Nakamura‘s breathtaking performance, stunning the audience. Following the tradition of senbazuru, the folding of a thousand paper cranes, as a form of prayer and remembrance, Nakamura substituted cranes with goldfish, a homage to their grandmother’s tradition: the final act of the ritual culminates in the release of these goldfishes into the waters of Venice, intertwining memory, tradition, and reverence, inviting viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of life and loss.

The first appointment sought to illuminate the diverse manifestations of RITUALS, showcasing the interplay between all existing entities within both natural and cultural systems. This concept was enriched by the artwork of artists like Rifat Baltaoglu, who integrated his architectural insight with a passion for sustainability, creating art from recycled materials. His work challenges and redefines the concept of sustainability, aiming to provoke curiosity and discussion among art lovers about the innovative use of materials. Ewelina Cichocka further explored this topic, by showcasing her works of abstract, relief composition, which were greatly inspired by the materials used in them – cardboard, paper and their properties. Her paintings change the face of something as common, and unnoticeable as cardboard, and thanks to the composition of the image, it becomes a discovery and reveals itself in a unique form.

The exhibition also offered a captivating setting for Maja Dimitrijevic and Dijana Vujacic‘s innovative project, which unfolded as a ritual: a painting on two canvases, exchanged every seven days. From November 2021 to April 2022, 24 pieces emerged, employing oil on canvas as the quintessential medium. The connection between the past and present was further explored by Sodoma X, a dynamic photographer, and image-maker, who brought this narrative into his work by compositing and manipulating his photos to evoke both symbolic and historical significance, seamlessly blending fine artistry with influences from 80s-90s UK and USA TV commercials.

The opening event of CONSCIOUSNESS, second appointment of ANIMA MUNDI, took place on May 10 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and was enhanced by the evocative performance by ValkirijA & TataU Shibari utilizing the traditional Japanese technique of Kinbaku bondage to weave a visual and emotional narrative through the intricate patterning of ropes on the human body. Through their act, ValkirijA & TataU challenged conventional norms and highlighted the importance of personal exploration and the development of spirit, body, and mind, effectively mirroring the exhibition’s exploration of human awareness and the invisible threads that connect us all.

Video artworks undeniably took center stage through the mesmerizing works of the artists: among them, Sonja Doberauer‘s artistic exploration transcended the boundaries of traditional mediums, delving into the dynamic interplay of video and sound to mirror the undulating rhythms of the cosmos. Through her work, she captured the non-directional yet rhythmic movement of our universe, a dance synchronized with the Earth’s orbit around the sun, shifting from circular to elliptical trajectories, inviting into a profound contemplation of the essence of existence, to listen to the whispers of the universe encoded in the symphonies of light and sound.

Through diverse techniques and perspectives, all artists contributed to deepening the exploration of the theme, offering spectators an immersive journey into the complexities of consciousness. Mari Munet, who first conceptualized flowers in her art as symbols of positivity and transformation, used them to represent growth and expansion: over several years, she began incorporating flowers in her mouth to explore the manipulation of words, creating a photo grid of 25 people to emphasize the power of positive communication and the importance of choosing words that promote harmony and compassion. Delving into this concept, Noah Di Bettschen‘s paintings on torn canvas highlighted the use of colorful and expressive hues to convey his artistic vision. Noah’s art included themes of natural disasters, psychoanalytic portraits, and political statements, all reflecting his belief that ignorance – whether of oneself or others – stemmed from fear of confronting life’s complexities, linking his technique to a deep exploration of consciousness and human experience.

The third and last event of ANIMA MUNDI ART FAIR 2024 was VISIONS, which featured two opening events: one on June 07 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and the other on June 20 at Palazzo Pisani-Revedin, and included various performers who reinterpreted the concept of the exhibition through their art. Among them Collettivo Il Nido explored the interplay of body, light, and darkness, highlighting what lies hidden rather than illuminated, along with Simona Di Nardo & Sara Pillino who humorously showcased the potential of the human body through a dream-like sequence of artistic snippets.

The exhibition program was further enriched by the inspirational contribution of Federica De Francesco who invited the audience into an abstract world of ‘play-pause,’ examining a reality that comforts and reassures its inhabitant, while Tomas Lagunavicius‘s “Contacts (Relations)” questioned the material and ideal nature of the world through the lens of external influences.

The last appointment of ANIMA MUNDI was enhanced by the first solo exhibition of Violaine Vieillefond, “L’oro dell’acqua”: twelve stunning canvases rich in blues and golds which explore the multifaceted nature of water, mixing themes of migration, the unknown, and the ever-present influence of the sea. Drawing inspiration from the several meanings of folding screens, they create intimate viewing spaces, symbolizing the barriers and passages of migration, and reflecting the ever-changing and fluid nature of water. Furthermore, her use of gold and blue not only pays homage to Venice’s rich cultural heritage but also serves as a symbolic reminder of water’s vital importance, a life-giving force, and its potential for devastation.

The relationship between art and technology was analyzed the interdisciplinary artist Chi Wah Man, presenting digital artworks that served as self-portraits, facilitating personal healing and self-discovery by aiming to confront fears and embrace change. Meanwhile, Pauline Phoon crafted a captivating installation using layers of glass and mirrors to juxtapose the simplicity of lines with the complexity of colors, reflects her meditative approach to using art as a tool to understand and articulate the intricacies of life.

The opening event at Palazzo Pisani-Revedin introduced viewers to Yaël Lamglait‘s “Visions into the Whirl”, who captivated the audience with a solo dance inspired by the sacred dance of the Whirling Dervishes, set to Trio Joubran’s “Nawwâr,” as the body, moved by the music, embarked on a sensual and mystical journey, channeling intoxicating energy that urgently connects to and celebrates life and humanity. The evening featured several compelling solo exhibitions, among them, the visionary artist Robert Falcone introduced his “Cane in un mondo post apocalittico”, which delved into the themes of destruction and emptiness that define a post-apocalyptic world and represented a journey that resonates with universal themes of connection, purpose, and resilience. Alongside Falcone’s exploration, the event presented the solo exhibition of the American artist Morgan Allis titled “Goddess Rising”: the artist’s research strived to reclaim old archetypes, uncovering missing pieces of the collective self, and reintegrating them into the world. Moreover, through her evocative pieces, the solo exhibition “INSIDE. L’arte ovunque” by Ursula Radel-Leszczynski added a significant contribution to the event, capturing the essence of personal reflection and the search for resonant connections within the realm of modern art, revealing the richness and complexity of the art experience, shaped by individual tastes, cultural influences, and personal journeys.

ANIMA MUNDI 2024 has unveiled its evolving, never-ending symphony. With more than 20 years of experience and more than 250 international art exhibitions, ITSLIQUID Group is pleased to have showcased every artist who contributed to the idea of ANIMA MUNDI.

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ABOUT US

ITSLIQUID is a web-based information platform, founded in 2001 by Luca Curci, dedicated to the worldwide 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, and media partnerships services.

During the last 20 years, ITSLIQUID Group has become 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, and 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 centre 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, the USA, Canada, the 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.

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OUR LOCATIONS

Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello is one of the most known palaces of the Renaissance in Venice. It is a historical building dating 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 furniture that enriches 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, is 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 hold some festivals and exhibitions in Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, such as MORPHOS Festival and FUTURE IDENTITIES Festival, both in 2014.