Issue 1: Introduction
Issue 2: Il Palazzo Enciclopedico
Issue 3: Walking on Water
Issue 4: A Pilsener space capsule?
Issue 5: The spiciest installation!
Issue 6: The perfect body?
Issue 7: A billionaire and a textile designer

The world's knowledge

...- acquired consciously as well as unconsciously, rational experiences and spiritual perceptions - is the theme of the exhibition 'Il Palazzo Enciclopedico' where the most impressive room was the one with ninety plastic on metal sculptures by Polish artist Pawel Althamer.

fig.: The two images right show some of the ninety sculptures 'Venetians' by Pawel Althamer (born 1967 in Warsaw, Poland) at 'Il Palazzo Enciclopedico' where art works by more than 150 artists from 38 countries are presented currently to the theme 'knowledge' during La Biennale di Venezia (1 June - 24 November 2013), photos captured on the press day on 30 May 2013.

I recognized the work of Pawel Althamer immediately. The first time I became aware of his art was several years ago because of his auto-biographic sculpture with Nike sport shoes on its feet (article 'Writing and re-writing history').

I like his work, how he captures emotions, sceneries, situations and communicates them with his life-size figures. The visitors at 'Il Palazzo di Enciclopedico' entered Althamer's communication with the figures; some of the visitors delved into the quiet sceneries, others walked around the sculptures for finding the best angle for their personal most expressive photo. I saw nobody who wasn't impressed by Pawel Althamer's work.

fig.: 'Venetians' by Pawel Althamer, 2013. The image shows the room with Pawel Althamer's 90 sculptures made from plastic on metal at 'Il Palazzo Enciclopedico' during La Biennale di Venezia 55th International Art Exhibition. Photo by Francesco Galli; courtesy La Biennale di Venezia.

Video (on occasion of La Biennale di Venezia 2013): Artist Pawel Althamer says in the video interview with d.repubblica.it that it is in the eyes of the viewer how his sculptures - representatives of the civilization of our planet, like crew members of a spaceship - can be interpreted. One possible interpretation is that the sculptures are portraits of planet earth's crew members; but it is up to you what you will find in this room, and perhaps you will only find what you are looking for. Pawel Althamer's message for visitors of the sculpture installation 'Venetians' at 'Il Palazzo Enciclopedico' is: "Open yourself." A message which is universal for acquiring the world's knowledge.

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