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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-07 Daily Xml
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Venice Biennale

Ms VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for the Arts. How is South Australia being represented at the 2015 Venice Biennale?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:03): Thank you to the member for Taylor for her important question. The 56th international art exhibition, the Venice Biennale 2015, will officially open to the public on Saturday. For members who are not aware, the Venice Biennale is the most prestigious art and cultural event in the world, as well as being the oldest biennale, with the first event taking place in 1895. What makes the Venice Biennale so unique, and I know the Treasurer will be very excited by this, is its mixture of both curated art exhibitions and national pavilions, where countries are invited to submit work by an artist that represents their cultural and artistic identity at its very best.

Australia has been included in the Venice Biennale since 1954, with 36 artists selected across this time to represent our nation. Since 1988, Australia has held one of just 29 permanent national pavilion sites in the exhibition gardens, with South Australian artists, such as Trevor Nickolls and Ngarrindjeri artist Yvonne Koolmatrie, previously being featured. On Tuesday, the new permanent pavilion designed by Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall was launched by the federal minister (Hon. George Brandis) and Australian icon Cate Blanchett.

Mr Marshall: George Brandis is a national icon? Hear, hear!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: He might consider himself a national icon, but—

Mr Marshall: That's what you just said!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: No—Australian icon, Cate Blanchett. The new pavilion, the first to be built in this century, is dedicated in 2015 to the display of work by Adelaide's very own Fiona Hall AO. Fiona is one of the Australia's leading contemporary artists, taking everyday objects to create sculptures that comment on society, globalisation and consumerism.

Fiona was celebrated in the 2014 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, where the launch of the Venice project also took place. In fact, the first Adelaide Biennial in 1990 also included her work. It seems that Adelaide has for some time supported and enjoyed the work of this South Australian artist. It is now time for a celebration on the world stage.

She is a wonderfully ingenious artist and her recognition as Australia's representative at the Biennale is truly deserved. Her exhibition, titled Wrong Way Time, presents hundreds of objects meticulously crafted by the artist. One component of the installation is a collaborative work with Anangu women from the Tjanpi Desert Weavers.

To have Fiona Hall as not only our national but also our state representative is the highest honour, and the importance of her contribution as the first artist to exhibit work in the new Australian Pavilion can't be overstated. All South Australians should be proud to see such a great local artist being promoted at such a prestigious event as the Venice Biennale. I'm glad that I recently had the chance to meet Fiona and, on behalf of the government, I would like to wish her all the best with the exhibition.

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