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International Biennials The number of international contemporary art biennials and survey exhibitions has proliferated over recent decades. The Venice Biennale, founded in 1895, is the oldest and most established and now encompasses national presentations, curated thematic exhibitions and an ever increasing number of alternative or off-site shows and events spread throughout the city. Since its founding in 1951 the Sao Paulo Bienal has become the premier visual arts event in South America and remains one of the largest in the world. Modelled on Venice and Sao Paulo, the Paris Biennale (1959-1985) was defined by its emphasis on younger artists. The first Documenta took place in Kassel in 1955 and has been held at approximately five yearly intervals. It has become recognised as the most significant international forum for contemporary art. The Indian Triennale ( since 1968) and the Biennale of Sydney (since 1973) were founded as international events but from their inception sought to highlight art from the Asian continent and Asia-Pacific region. Biennials in Havana, Cairo (both since 1984) and Johannesburg (1995-98) have expanded the geographic focus even further to encompass the Carribean and the African continent. Biennials and Triennials now exist in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Dakar, Istanbul, Guanghou, Kwangju, Liverpool, Lyon, Pusan, Shanghai, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), Taipei, Tirana, Valencia, Vilnius, Yokohoma with the nomadic Manifesta appearing in a different city every two years. Each has a distinct focus, dictated in part by its geographic location but increasingly by its artistic direction, the tendency being to move away from selection solely by nationality towards selection by curatorial theme.

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What does the British Council do in this area? The Venice Biennale is the Visual Arts Department’s largest high profile arts event and since 1937 we have had responsibility for selecting artists to represent Britain in the British Pavilion. In 2000 Catherine Yass represented Britain at the Indian Triennale with Star, and in 2002 Willie Doherty presented Re-Run at the Sao Paulo Bienal. Both these artists have since been nominated for the Turner Prize, Britain’s primary contemporary art prize, for their success at these events. Take a closer look at our current and archived projects at International Biennials and Triennials. Venice Biennale Take a look at the history of the British Pavilion from 1895 to 2003, as well as looking at the current exhibition and wider UK representation from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Archived International Biennials projects Catherine Yass: Star Exhibition of Catherine Yass’ Star, six portraits of famous Indian filmstars and four images of the auditoriums of cinemas in Mumbai. The work was presented as photographic transparencies mounted in lightboxes and was specially commissioned by the British Council for its first showing at the 10th Indian Triennale. Search through archived International Biennials projects

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