Personal Structures - Identities
5th Edition

Recognising the tendency of the world to often divide people rather than unite them, we are drawn to have a closer look at what this means and where this urgency takes us. The creation of political and physical borders is a psychological and cultural phenomenon, which shapes our identities and sense of belonging. These borders have powerful symbolic meanings, linking us to groups based on shared beliefs and surroundings. Our culture and beliefs help us define who we are, giving our lives meaning and defining our existence. By reflecting upon one’s own Identity, people distinguish between the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ which expands to our sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’. It’s important to appreciate the beauty in our differences.

In a world where words such as “culture” and “identity” shape our awareness, the European Cultural Centre (ECC) plays a crucial role. By bringing together diverse cultures, the ECC encourages people to think critically about the concepts of Time, Space, and Existence. The interactions among the various presentations within our exhibitions, promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of cultural commons as well as diversities.

The Personal Structures – Identities exhibition provided an open platform for discussing contemporary art free from ideological, political, and geographical barriers. The exhibition showcased an array of works by international well-known and emerging artists, presenting their reflections on Time, Space, and Existence through various media, including video, sculpture, painting, drawing, photos, and installations. Featuring over 200 artists from more than 50 countries, the exhibition aimed to present unique perspectives and highlight both the commonalities and differences between European and non-European identities, encouraging spectators to become more aware of their own existence and identity within their cultural context.

The exhibition resulted in a collective statement involving artists from numerous countries, symbolising hope for a future where people can live as free global citizens, understanding and appreciating the importance of diverse identities.

Dates

From 11 May
to 24 November 2019

Venues

Palazzo Mora
Palazzo Bembo
Marinaressa Gardens

Participants

Palazzo Mora

Soraya Abu Naba’a, DOM/USA; Aamir Habib & Noor Ali Chagani – Antidote Art & Design, PAK; Emiko Aida, GBR; Leca Araujo, BRA; AU! – Arvee, Meg den Hartog & Naerebout, Vanhorck, NDL; Petra Barth, USA/DEU; Katerina Belkina, DEU; Patrick Bermingham, CAN; Bob Bingham, USA; BIRDSEYE – Brian J. Mac, FAIA, USA; Marcus Bleasdale, GBR; William Bloomfield, USA; Eyenga Bokamba, USA; Peter Bracke, BEL; Aliette Bretel, PER; Brooklyn NY Art Wave, JPN/USA; Christopher Capriotti, USA; Adriana Carambia, ARG; Esteve Casanoves, ESP; In Hyuk Choi, SKO; Insook Choi – Salford University, KOR/UK; Bob Clyatt, USA; Jacopo di Cera, ITA; Joy Poulard Cruz, USA; Barbara Downs, USA; Mark Dziewulski, UK; Alberto Echegaray Guevara, ARG/ESP; EVA & ADELE, DEU – VALIE EXPORT, AUT; Feromontana, AUT; Jared FitzGerald, USA/CHIN; Nick Crockett, USA; Puma Freytag, CAN – Andras Gal, HUN; Erin Genia – MIT, USA; Beatriz Gerenstein, USA; Sarah Gold, NLD; Elena Gual Baquera, ESP/GBR; Gunnar H. Gundersen, NOR; Joan M. Hall, USA; Karin Hannak, AUT; Carl Martin Hansen, NOR; Kathryn Hart, USA; Juergen Haupt, DEU; Elizabeth Heyert, USA; HIHEY, CHN; Yumiko Hirokawa, JPN; Ania Hobson, GBR; Mika Isohata, JPN; Joël Nankin, GLP/FR & François Piquet, GLP/FR; Jon Jaylo, USA; Igor Josifov, MKD; Shunsuke Kano, JPN; Lina Karam, FRA; Azad Karim, SVN; Miwako Kashiwagi, JPN; Shohei Katayama, JPN/USA; Nadia Kisseleva, RUS; Manfred Kielnhofer, AUT; Ute Krautkremer, DEU; Jan Kuenzler, DEU; Anne Kuhn, FRA; Marietta Patricia Leis, USA; Ping-Cheng Liang, TWN; Blazej Ostoja Lniski, POL; Norma E. Lopez, COL; Loughborough University, GBR; Lorenzo Maria Monti, ITA; Erin Mallea, USA; Stephan Marienfeld, DEU; Walter Markham, USA; Marcello Martinez Vega, DEU/ECU; Walter McConnell, USA; Joseph McDonnell, USA; Chris McMullen, USA; Pamela Merory Dernham, Cyrus Tilton & Sanjay Vora, USA; James Michalopoulus, USA; Lorenzo Maria Monti, ITA; Niwako Mori, JPN; Sai Morikawa, JPN; Müller & Sohn Art Projects, DEU; Museum of Contemporary Art of Castilla la Mancha, ESP; Raffy Napay, PHL; Jackie Neale, USA; Hermann Nitsch, AUT; Reka Nyari, USA; Jan Oberg, SWE; Natalia Ohar, UKR; Yoko Ono, JPN; Roman Opalka, POL; Gregory Orekhov, RUS; David Pace, USA; Tomasz Padło, POL; PAPER Pavilion, GBR; Maria Pavlovska, RUS; Daniel Pešta, CZE; Christine Kowal Post, GBR; POW Ideas, MYS; Olga Marie Polunin, SGP; Martin Praska, AUT; R. Berte & Dr. M. Proepper, DEU; PSJM, ESP; Arnulf Rainer, AUT; Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen, DEN; Patricia Reinhart, USA; Rene Rietmeyer, NLD; Andreas Rimpel, DEU; Iggy Rodriguez, PHL; Herb Rosenberg, USA; Yoshiko Saito, JPN; Brigitte J. Schaider, DEU; Sarah Schrimpf, DEU; Joakim Sederholm, FIN; Martine Seibert-Raken, DEU; Bianca Severijns, NLD/ISR; Antonio Sorrentino, ITA; Samuel Stubblefield, USA; Studio Palazzo Inzaghi – Irmfried Windbichler, Ruth Ledersteger & Jolana Skacel -Wagner, AUT/EU; Isaac Sullivan, USA; Sung-Kyun – Goo & Vania Oh, KOR; Merab Surviladze, BEL; Betty Susiarjo, IDN; Toto Takamori, JPN; Barbro Raen Thomassen, NOR; Sho Tsunoda, JPN; Katja Tukiainen, FIN; Urban Studies Lab – UDDI – Federico Puggioni, THA; Judith Unger, USA; Guy Van den Bulcke, BEL; Sanja Vatic & Daniela Danica Tepes, SVN; Arika Von Edler, USA; Maxim Wakultschik, BLR/DEU; Val Wens & Tony Bond, IDN/AUS; Ariela Wertheimer, ISR; Willem de Kooning Academy, NLD; Maria Wolfram, FIN; Lu Xinjian, CHN; Rada Yakova, NLD; Karou Yamamoto & Kouji Ohno, JPN; Purvis Young, USA; Andre Chi Sing Yuen, DEU; Meng Zhou, CHN; Ding Li, CHN; Cui Wantian, CHN; Zhang Langian, CHN.

Palazzo Bembo

Ika Abravanel, ISR; Detlef E. Aderhold, DEU; Sahar Ahmadi, BHR/UAE; Mark Amerika, USA; Anoma, LKA; Nobuyoshi Araki, JPN; Murielle Argoud, CHE; Art Gallery Tolstoy, RUS; Atelier Morales, FRA; Cheryl Goldsleger – Augusta University, USA; Laila Azra, IDN/SGP; Eliana Barbosa, BRA/USA; Mario Basner, USA; Dalia Berlin, ESP/USA; Curator’s Voice Art Projects, USA; Manfred Bockelmann, AUT; Francois Bonjour, CHE; Annette Bonnier, USA; China Blue, USA/CAN/CHE; Rosario Bond, DOM /USA; Clarita Camacho, VEN; Solan Chiu, HKG; Vio Choe, KOR; Jeongyun Choi & SON IL, KOR; Young Min Choi, KOR; Lori Cuisinier, USA; Deakin University – David Cross and Cameron Bishop, Public Art Commission, AUS; Nathalia Delgado, PER/BHS; Giò Di Busca, CHE; John Doing, CHE; Nina Dotti, YV; EVA, RUS; Andrea Fried, ARG; Hideharu Fukasaku, JPN; Justin Garcia, USA; Sarah Gold, NLD; Christopher Griffith, USA; Marinka Groendel, NLD; Teo Chai Guan, SGP; Tilney Hardiment, GBR; Camomile Hixon, USA; Julie Hsieh – Yen-Fu Kuo & Chien-Hsing Lien, TWN; Hélène Jacubowitz, BEL/ISR; Xuan Jing & Sharon Tsai, TWN; Ervin A. Johnson, USA; Georges Kachaamy – American University of Dubai, LBN – Jessica M. Kaufman, USA; Virginia King, NZL; Helen Kirwan, IRL/GBR; LL Editions – Sam Nhlengethwa, Nandipha Mntambo, Blessing Ngobeni & Mbali Dhlamini, ZAF/SWZ; Sérgio Leitão, PRT; Eric J. Lee, USA; Zinaida Kubar, UKR; Sherman Lin, CHN; Davor Ljubicic, DEU; Olga Lomaka, RUS; Frank Mann, USA; Karina Matheus, VEN/USA; Clark Medley, USA; Arnaud Nazare-Aga, FRA; Karl Ohiri & Riikka Kassinen, GBR/NIG & FIN; Hans Christian Ohl, DEU; Elisabeth Olle-Curiel, ESP; Helga Palasser, AUT; Martina Reinhart, AUT; Jim Rattenbury, ESP; Tania Riera, Venezuela/USA; Orestis Seferoglou, GRC; Claudia Schildknecht, CHE; Eva Schjølberg, NOR; Tineke Smith, NLD; Wanda Stang, DEU; Wendy Steiner & Andrew Lucia, CAN/USA; Lorien Suarez-Kanerva, VEN/USA; Betty Susiarjo, IDN; Hanna Ten-Doornkaat, GBR; Gotlind Timmermanns, DEU; Lincoln Townley, GBR; Federico Uribe, COL; Dr. Héctor Valdés, CHL; Marc Vinciguerra, USA/FRA; Wendy Wahl, USA; Wild Flag Studios, CAN/GBR/USA; Salma Zulfiqar, GBR.

Marinaressa Gardens

Masoud Akhavan, IRN; Richard Bell, AUS; Carole Feuerman, USA – Laurence Jenkell, FRA/ISR – Idan Zareski, FRA/ISR presented by Bel Air Fine Art; IMAN – Instituto Mazeredo de Arte Nova, BRA; Jean-Marc Hunt, GLP/FR; Nadim Karam, LEB; Anton Kerscher, DEU; Georg Loewitt, AUT; Olga Lomaka, RUS; Clifton Manghoe, NLD; Manuela Mollwitz, DEU/CHE; Kumari Nahappan, SGP; NONOS – Mercedes & Franziska Welte, DEU; Gregory Orekhov, RUS; Barbro Raen Thomassen, NOR; George Tobolowsky, USA; Tristan Vyskoc, FRA; Maritta Winter, DEU/CHE.

Useful Links

Catalogue

Learn more about the incredible artists and projects featured in Personal Structures. Download the 2019 Digital Catalogue!

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Collateral Events

Pacific Time – Time Flies
National Participation of Kiribati
La Biennale di Venezia Arte 2019

The Republic of Kiribati Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale reflected the endangered existence of the island country of Kiribati and the time we live in.

In the Kiribati Pavilion, were showcased interlaced group artworks by 29 artists from different generation and genres of art. The presented art genres were: video, photography, interactive animation, performance, ready-made and installation. The artist Michael Betero used photography to represent the threat to homes and inhabitants.

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The Past. The Present and the in Between
National Participation of Mozambique
La Biennale di Venezia Arte 2019

The National Pavilion of Mozambique aims to show, through a contemporary perspective, the troubled past of the nation and its influences in today’s society. portraying this journey are three artists who grew up in a post-colonial period during which the country was engulfed in a long civil war from 1977 to 1992.

Working with different mediums, Gonçalo Mabunda, Mauro Pinto and Filipe Branquinho gave an ironic nod to the experience of human hardship. The result was an artwork that investigated contemporary politics and popular culture, underpinned by a poetic and sometimes humorous accent. Extremely attentive to what happens around them, particularly to the deeper dimensions of the human experience, their work speaks to our most empathic feelings.

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Drift
National Participation of the Republic of Seychelles
La Biennale di Venezia Arte 2019

Two personal installations by artists George Camille and Daniel Dodin which, in a complementary manner, are intended to provoke dialogue and consideration of issues around social repression specifically relating to the daily, pernicious and hard-to-avoid ‘tsunami’ of data, pseudo-knowledge and misinformation.

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Videos

Discover the exhibition through the words of its organisers and participants. A glimpse of Personal Structures – Identities just a click away!

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Press Materials

Want to discover more about Personal Structures? Check out the Press Release! For press inquiries and media accreditation, you can contact us at press@ecc-italy.eu.

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