Liverpool Biennial

Liverpool Biennial is a British international festival of contemporary art held in Liverpool. The festival comprises the International Exhibition, the John Moores Painting Prize, the Bloomberg New Contemporaries Exhibition and the Independents Biennial.

History

The Liverpool Biennial was established by James Moores in 1998 and has presented festivals in 1999, 2002, 2004, and 2006. The 5th festival opens on 20th September 2008, as part of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.

The festival consists of four strands. The International exhibition is delivered in collaboration with partner organisations including FACT, Tate Liverpool, the Bluecoat and Open Eye gallery, with half of the 30-40 new commissions appearing in public spaces around the city. The John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize at the Walker Art Gallery celebrates its 50th year in 2008 as a national open painting competition. The annual Bloomberg New Contemporaries Exhibition showcases new work by graduates from Fine Art schools in the UK. The Independents Biennial is the umbrella, through which a programme of exhibitions is realised by independent and artist-led organisations.

Liverpool Biennial has an ongoing year-round role commissioning art for the public realm, such as Richard Wilson’s "Turning the Place Over" and Antony Gormley’s "Another Place" at Crosby Beach; it also has an educational programme.

2004

In 2004, the festival caused controversy by exhibiting a work by Yoko Ono entitled "My mummy was beautiful". This was a series of full colour photographs of a woman's breast and crotch, which were exhibited throughout the city centre. Peter Johansson's "Swedish red" was a one room house at the Pier Head painted bright red and playing ABBA's record "Dancing Queen". The Walker Art Gallery mounted "The Stuckists Punk Victorian", the first major show of the Stuckist artists, who had not previously been given official recognition. [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/exh/ART24134.html "Stuckist's Punk Victorian gatecrashes Walker's Biennial] , 24hourmuseum, 17 September 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2008.]

2006

In 2006, there were five exhibition strands—International 06, International +, John Moores 24, the Independents and New Contemporaries.

2008

The theme of the Biennial’s showpiece "International 08" exhibition is "Made Up". [ [http://www.biennial.com/content/Programme/International1.aspx "The fifth edition of Liverpool Biennial’s International exhibition"] , biennial.com. Retrieved 5 February 2008.]

Throughout 2008 as part of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, new commissions for the public realm include "Winter Lights" (a series of neon lights by international artists in collaboration with local communities), "Visible Virals" (interventionist artworks in public spaces and buildings in the city), and a series of "Pavilions" (creating spaces for cultural activity in local communities).

Again there is also the John Moores Painting Prize (No. 25), the New Contemporaries and The Independents

ee also

* Art exhibition
* Biennale

Notes and references

External links

* http://www.biennial.com/
* http://www.independentsbiennial.org/
* http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/exhibitions/liverpoolbiennial06/
* http://www.artinliverpool.com/biennial/
* http://www.afoundation.org.uk/