The 42nd Venice Biennale, held in 1986, was an exhibition of international
contemporary art
Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...
, with 40 participating nations. The
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale ( ; ) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy. There are two main components of the festival, known as the Art Biennale () and the Venice Biennale of Architecture, Architecture Biennale (), ...
takes place
biennially in
Venice, Italy
Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are linked by 438 bridge ...
. Prizewinners of the 42nd Biennale included:
Frank Auerbach
Frank Helmut Auerbach (29 April 1931 – 11 November 2024) was a German-born British painter. Born in Germany to Jewish parents, he became a naturalised British subject in 1947. He is considered one of the leading names in the School of Lo ...
and
Sigmar Polke
Sigmar Polke (13 February 1941 – 10 June 2010) was a German painter and photographer. Polke experimented with a wide range of styles, subject matters and materials. In the 1970s, he concentrated on photography, returning to paint in the 1980s, ...
(International Prize/Golden Lion), the
French pavilion
The French pavilion houses France's National pavilion, national representation during the Venice Biennale arts festivals.
Background
Organisation and building
The pavilion was built in 1912 and designed by architect Faust Finzi, chief e ...
with
Daniel Buren
Daniel Buren (born 25 March 1938, in Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French conceptual artist, painter, and sculptor. He has won numerous awards including the Golden Lion for best pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1986), the International Award for ...
(best national representation),
Nunzio Di Stefano (best young artist), and Golden Lion in memory of sculptor
Fausto Melotti
Fausto Melotti (1901–1986) was an Italian sculptor, ceramicist, poet, and theorist.
Life
Fausto Melotti was born in the city of Rovereto, a city just east of Lake Garda in northeastern Italy in 1901. He had a sister, Renata Melotti, who was ...
. These were the first Biennale prizes awarded since 1968.
Awards
* International Prize/Golden Lion:
Frank Auerbach
Frank Helmut Auerbach (29 April 1931 – 11 November 2024) was a German-born British painter. Born in Germany to Jewish parents, he became a naturalised British subject in 1947. He is considered one of the leading names in the School of Lo ...
and
Sigmar Polke
Sigmar Polke (13 February 1941 – 10 June 2010) was a German painter and photographer. Polke experimented with a wide range of styles, subject matters and materials. In the 1970s, he concentrated on photography, returning to paint in the 1980s, ...
* Golden Lion for best national representation:
French pavilion
The French pavilion houses France's National pavilion, national representation during the Venice Biennale arts festivals.
Background
Organisation and building
The pavilion was built in 1912 and designed by architect Faust Finzi, chief e ...
with
Daniel Buren
Daniel Buren (born 25 March 1938, in Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French conceptual artist, painter, and sculptor. He has won numerous awards including the Golden Lion for best pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1986), the International Award for ...
* ''Premio 2000'' (young artist):
Nunzio Di Stefano
* Golden Lion in memory of sculptor
Fausto Melotti
Fausto Melotti (1901–1986) was an Italian sculptor, ceramicist, poet, and theorist.
Life
Fausto Melotti was born in the city of Rovereto, a city just east of Lake Garda in northeastern Italy in 1901. He had a sister, Renata Melotti, who was ...
References
Bibliography
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Further reading
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{{Portal bar, Italy, Visual arts, 1980s
1986 in art
1986 in Italy
Venice Biennale exhibitions