fig.: On 1 June 2011, I have visited the press opening day of the 54th Biennale di Venezia, which stands this year under the theme 'ILLUMInations' - in the meaning to reflect upon what inspires contemporary artists and the conventions to view art. "La Biennale is a grand pilgrimage where the voices of the world that speak to us of their and our future come together in the artists' creations and the curators' work." says Paolo Baratta, President of La Biennale di Venezia. On the image you can see me on my way over the Grande Canale and the Mediterranean Sea to the Arsenale and Giardini.

VENICE INSIGHT by publisher Karin Sawetz June 2011
Karin Sawetz is journalist, media researcher and fashion scientist (Mag. Dr. phil.).

"Where is the 'Louis Vuitton'-pavilion?"

Inside the Giardini, the organisers of the 54th Biennale di Venezia press opening day have offered golf cars for the transport of lazy walkers; such as I was one after some hours running around. I took the seat beneath a woman and started talking about the most interesting pavilions. She named some country pavilions and then she asked if I have seen the 'Louis Vuitton'-pavilion and said that this one is great!

The 'Louis Vuitton'-pavilion is in real the Venice Pavilion; the installation 'Mari Verticali' by Fabrizio Plessi is from the Collezione Louis Vuitton.

By entering the circular exhibition room, - first impression gondolas - boats by the Venice/Majorca based artist Fabrizio Plessi are awaiting the visitor in a way that frightens. The evoked feeling of 'smallness' against the authoritative positioning - warning or demanding? - of the traditionally crafted boats with high-tech equipment is intensified by the sound of waves from somewhere in the middle of an ocean, where nobody else is; and it's a dark night.

Fabrizio Plessi about his work: "The ancient wisdom of man and craftmanship merge with the latest technology in a perfect symbiosis between present and future. Everything is ready for us to embark on these electronic Noah's Arks that trust towards the sky awaiting us, incredulous and bewildered digital aborigines of present-day life."

fig.: Installation view on the 'Mari Verticali' by Fabrizio Plessi from the Louis Vuitton collection in the Venice Pavilion on the press opening day of the 54th Biennale di Venezia on 1st June 2011. The screens inside the boats are showing the sea. You can find a video with sound (the boats are in another arrangement than in Venice) on matthias-schnabel.de/cms/louis-vuitton-trophy-dubai-mari-verticali-di-fabrizio-plessi/.

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