Once again, this year the State Secretariat for International Cooperation at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Directorate of Cultural and Scientific Relations at AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), is consolidating its presence at the Venice Biennale.
The world’s oldest and original biennial, whose upcoming 53rd edition is addressing the concept of Fare Mondi / Making Worlds, is still widely recognised as one of the world’s must-see contemporary art events.
Spain has always been a major player throughout the century-plus history of this biennale with its own pavilion for exhibitions. In 1950, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation took on the direct coordination of the country’s participation at the Spanish Pavilion and ever since it has focused its actions on promoting the very best Spanish artists at this major event.
For the current 2009 edition, the Spanish Pavilion at the Biennale boasts the presence of Miquel Barceló, one of the world’s most widely recognised visual artists. Curated by Enrique Juncosa, director of IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) in Dublin, the exhibition comprises a series of large format paintings surveying Barceló’s work from 2000 to the present.
Also collaborating in the Spanish project for this latest Venice Biennale are SEACEX (State Society for Spanish Cultural Action Abroad).