As one of the Collateral Events of the 54th International Art Exhibition organised by La Biennale di Venezia, Personal Structures presented 28 artists coming from 12 different countries. The exhibition showcased a remarkable blend of both established artists and lesser-known art professionals. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the international artists featured shared a common commitment to exploring the profound concepts of Time, Space, and Existence.

Personal Structures was held at the prestigious Palazzo Bembo in Venice, located by the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal. Each artist presented recent works, ranging from site-specific creations made exclusively for the event to pieces coming directly from their studios. The exhibition featured a diverse array of artistic media, including videos, sculptures, paintings, photography, light installations, wallpaper, and performance art. Each room was dedicated to a single artist, resulting in distinct and unique atmospheres throughout the venue. 

Featuring artists from diverse cultures and varying ages, the first edition of Personal Structures offered unconventional perspectives on the fundamental concepts of Time, Space, and Existence. The group show invited spectators to cultivate a more mindful relationship with their everyday surroundings, deepening their awareness of their own personal existence within the specific dimensions of Space and Time.

The Personal Structures project was initiated in 2002 by Dutch artist Rene Rietmeyer, who observed that even in the most remote corners of the world, artists were working with the themes of Time, Space, and Existence, expressing themselves in profoundly personal ways. This realisation inspired the idea of bringing artists from different cultures together through publications, exhibitions, and symposia.