Personal Structures says goodbye to its sixth edition

The European Cultural Centre (ECC) hosted the finisage of the sixth edition of the art biennial Personal Structures, which ran between 23 April and 27 November 2022, at Palazzo Bembo, Palazzo Mora and the Marinaressa Gardens in Venice, Italy.

The exhibition welcomed nearly 200 participants from 51 different countries, including internationally-renowned and emerging artists, photographers, and sculptors, as well as worldwide academic institutions. In line with the theme of this year’s edition, reflections, the exhibition brought together perspectives from all corners, reflecting on trends, dreams, hopes and fears from today’s world.

“This year’s edition of Personal Structures has provided us with a unique opportunity. We have reconnected with professionals whom we had not seen for a long time due to the pandemic, and we have connected with new voices, allowing us to learn and explore fresh directions. Together, we have challenged ourselves and visitors alike not only by reflecting on our current reality but also by imagining a better future. Through art, participants have planted the seed for possibility, either from a realistic or utopian stance, that the public has been invited to delve into. It is by listening to all these different stories, expressing our thoughts and concerns, emphasising with these and engaging in meaningful discussions that we, the art and cultural worlds, can contribute to shaping the world we want to live in.”
Sara Danieli, Head of Art, ECC Italy

Thanks to its internationality and digitalised assets, the exhibition gained in recognition and audience from beginning to end. The show was experienced in-person by approximately 578.200 visitors, gaining over +30% new users on social media and reaching over 150.000 website views. Additionally, Personal Structures – Reflections was covered locally and internationally by well-known media outlets such as The Art Newspaper, Il Giornale dell’Arte, Juliet Magazine, Aesthetica, The Washington Post, Artnet, FAD Magazine, The New York Times, and Artsy, among other examples of coverage a selection of which can be found here. The ECC also appreciated the support from its local partner Venezia News and concrete collaborations with the international publications Frieze, Aesthetica, and Il Giornale Dell’Arte.

Expansion of the exhibition

In line with ECC’s mission of enhancing exchange and expanding our network, the exhibition was communicated through different channels that connected with audiences beyond the scope of Venice. Editorials and articles published on the Personal Structures’ website observed and narrated the work of concrete participants or common topics shared by multiple artists. The ECC Italy’s social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook), allowed the dissemination of these contents in parallel to engaging campaigns and continuous, rigorous posting that covered all aspects of the exhibition. Videos and photography captured key moments and conveyed the essence of the show, organisation and individuals involved, as well as documented interviews with the ECC curatorial team and attending participants.

For those faraway, Personal Structures was made available thanks to the release of virtual tours through all venues with information on the works exhibited. In addition, the organisation published the 2022 edition of the Personal Structures catalogue. Curated and designed by the ECC Italy team and crafted by local printer Grafiche Veneziane, the catalogue focuses on over the 200 projects presented at Palazzo Mora, Palazzo Bembo and Marinaressa Gardens. As an extension of the exhibition itself, the European Cultural Centre created two printed versions of the Personal Structures 2022 Catalogue: a collectable hardcover publication and a paperback one that accompanies and guides the spectator through the exhibition. The catalogue is also available digitally and downloadable on the exhibition’s website.

Events

The exhibition was open for seven months, a period during which 63 public events and eight private events were organised in collaboration with participating artists, sponsors, professionals, institutions, cultural organisations, and universities. The ECC hosted participatory workshops focusing on the creation of artworks, artist talks about cultural projects, performances through the exhibition in different venues, academic conferences on contemporary issues, and many more.

Furthermore, unlike any other edition, the ECC Italy team launched the first cycle of Personal Structures | Public Screenings, an exclusive screening event that presented short audiovisual creations by selected participants of the Personal Structures exhibition 2022, which were presented at Palazzo Michiel on November 26th, 2022.

Collateral Event and Special Project

Moreover, the European Cultural Centre strengthened its international collaborations thanks to two exceptional additions. The ECC hosted the unique exhibition From Palestine With Art organised by the Palestine Museum US at Palazzo Mora as a Collateral Event of the 59th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia; and launched the first-ever collaboration with Fiebre Photobook, a Spanish photobook fair and festival, who invited the ECC to partake in the 10th edition of the Fiebre Photobook Festival in September 2022 at the Galería de Cristal de CentroCentro in Madrid, Spain.