Biennale Golden Lions Announced: Adrian Piper for Best Artist, Armenia for Best Pavilion

May 10th, 2015

Adrian Piper, Everything #21 (2010-2013)

The awards for the 56th Venice Biennale have been announced, with the Armenian National Pavilion taking home the Golden Lion for best exhibition, Adrian Piper winning the Golden Lion for best artist in the main exhibition, and El Anatsui winning the Lifetime Achievement award.  A full list of awards is included below:

Golden Lion for Best National Participation:
Republic of Armenia

Armenity / Haiyutioun. Contemporary artists from the Armenian Diaspora

 Deputy Commissioners: Art for the World Europa, Mekhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro Island, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy, Vartan Karapetian

Curator: Adelina Cüberyan von Fürstenberg

Artists:
Haig Aivazian, Nigol Bezjian, Anna Boghiguian, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, Ayreen Anastas & René Gabri, Mekhitar Garabedian, Aikaterini Gegisian, Yervant Gianikian & Angela Ricci Lucchi, Aram Jibilian, Nina Katchadourian, Melik Ohanian, Mikayel Ohanjanyan, Rosana Palazyan, Sarkis, Hrair Sarkissian

Venue: Monastery and Island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni

Golden Lion for Best Artist: 

Adrian Piper

Work: The Probable Trust Registry: The Rules of the Game #1–3
Exhibited at the Arsenale, Corderie.

Silver Lion for a promising young artist:

Im Heung-Soon

Work: Factory Complex
Exhibited at the Arsenale, Artiglierie.

Special Mentions

Harun Farocki
(* 1944 Nový Jičín, Czech Republic. + 2014 near Berlin.
Works at Corderie, Arsenale.)

Abounaddara collective
(Founded in 2010, Syria/Palestine, based in Damascus, Syria.
Video at Giardino delle Vergini, Arsenale)

Massinissa Selmani
 (* 1980 Algeria. Drawings at Corderie, Arsenale.)

Special Mention Pavilion

Joan Jonas: They Come to Us Without a Word
Venue: Pavilion at Giardini

 

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

El Anatsui (Ghana)

 

Special Golden Lion for Services to the Arts:

Susanne Ghez (USA)