The 60th Biennale Arte will open to the public on April 20. But on the 17th, 18th and 19th there will be the various events and collateral events that always enliven suddenly Venetian artistic life. The awards ceremony will take place the day of opening to the public.

The title of the 60th edition of the Art Biennale is Foreigners Everywhere - Foreigners Everywhere.

The exhibition will be divided into between the Central Pavilion in the Giardini and the Arsenale, including 213 artists from 88 nations. There are 26 Italian artists, 180 first participations in the International Exhibition, 1433 works and objects on display, 80 new productions.

Go to the page of the 60th Venice Art Biennale

Curator of the 60th Venice Art Biennale

The 2024 edition is curated by Adriano Pedrosa.

Adriano Pedrosa, curator of the 60th Venice Art Biennale

– Adriano Pedrosa (born 1965) is a Brazilian curator. He is the artistic director of the São Paulo Art Museum (MASP) and the 2024 Venice Biennale.

Go to the page of the 60th Venice Art Biennale

Danish Pavilion, Denmark at 60th Biennale Arte of Venice

The title of the exhibition at the Danish Pavilion is Rise of the Sunken Sun.

Artists: Inuuteq Storch.
Curators: Louise Wolthers.
Commissioner: Danish Arts Foundation.
Seat: Padiglione Danimarca, Giardini - Venezia

Press Release of Danish Pavilion

The Danish Pavilion is proud to present the photography exhibition Rise of the Sunken Sun by the artist Inuuteq Storch at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. This exhibition marks the Danish Pavilion’s first presentation of an artist from the North Atlantic region of the Danish Realm and the inaugural solo photography exhibition for the Pavilion.

Aligned with the Biennale Arte 2024 theme, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, Storch’s Rise of the Sunken Sun delves into the concept of engaging in a decolonial process, emphasising the pursuit of visibility, with a sensitive awareness of the complexities within national, cultural, and personal identities. The exhibition invites viewers into the heart of Greenlandic life, merging historical and contemporary perspectives through six thematic photography series. The presentation unfolds against the backdrop of Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland's native name, offering a nuanced narrative that transcends conventional representations of Greenland.

Rise of the Sunken Sun presents an extensive selection of photographic works, in new, site-specific formats, re-contextualising historical and contemporary works through juxtaposition. Complemented by musical compositions and soundscapes, the exhibition also includes a sculptural element resembling a red, glowing halved disk, which functions as a large mirror. The disk symbolises the Arctic sunset over the white, icy landscape, with allusions to the Greenlandic flag, traditional Inuit beliefs, and the exhibition title.

In the exhibition, Storch corrects and extends the prevailing vision of Greenland, a self-governing, autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. His work examines the expansiveness of Greenlandic identity, seamlessly merging historical and family photographs with contemporary snapshots of everyday life.

In the artist’s own words, the essence of his project for the Biennale Arte 2024 is to “to tell the Greenlanders’ visual history, not seen through the visitors’ eyes, but through the Greenlanders’ own.” From DANMARK to Kalaallit Nunaat

Visitors will step into Kalaallit Nunaat, as Rise of the Sunken Sun centres on conveying personal stories on one’s own terms. In line with this ethos, Storch has mounted a transparent sign on top of the pavilion's DANMARK sign, bearing the words, "Kalaallit Nunaat", which translates to “Greenland” and literally means “land of the people” in Greenlandic. This subtle act skilfully articulates the intertwined bonds between the two countries, underscoring Storch’s commitment to showcase and celebrate Greenland through a visual narrative of daily life.

Six Thematic Photography Series

Storch’s presentation consists of hundreds of photographs taken on various cameras. Each series uniquely tells a story about Greenlandic life and identity, both historically and today. Works include Storch's raw, intimate, and poetic photographs of his life in his hometown of Sisimiut; images from his family’s photo archives; as well as a digitised compilation of historical photographs by John Møller, the first professional Greenlandic photographer. The Danish Pavilion thus transforms into a kaleidoscope, offering an ever-changing visual narrative that remains steadfastly rooted in the Greenlandic experience, life, and identity. The body of work is formed from six different thematic photographic series, including: Sunsets of Forgotten Moments – a slideshow composed of a vast archive of amateur photographs from Storch’s own family, spanning over six decades from the 1940s to the 2000s. Intimate, personal motives are exposed, softly underlining the importance of vernacular photography in constructing a more nuanced history.

Mirrored – a digitised compilation of historic photographs by John Møller (1867-1935), the first professional Greenlandic photographer. Taken between the late 1880s and the early 1930s, the images provide a unique perspective on Greenland during its time as a Danish colony. Storch’s selection primarily focus on the Danish administrators, explorers, priests and mine workers in Greenland.

Keepers of the Ocean – taken in 2019, is installed here alongside the historic series, Mirrored. The series captures a playful and poetic essence through physical, raw, snapshotstyle photographs. These images intimately approach Storch’s friends and network, predominantly taken in his hometown of Sisimiut, Greenland's second largest city, with approximately 5,000 inhabitants.

At Home We Belong – Storch’s earliest work, first shown in 2018, is installed as a frieze of light boxes. The black-and-white series comprises 22 tableaux of contemporary Greenlandic scenes and serves as an empowering statement, demanding recognition for Greenlanders who are often stereotyped by the rest of the world.

Soon Will Summer be Over – Storch's most recent project was photographed in Qaanaaq during the summer of 2023 in North Greenland, one of the last places to be colonised in the past. The series reveals colonial traces in home interiors, and magnificent outdoor photographs which bear witness to the struggles to maintain hunting and fishing traditions in a time when nature and climate are changing.

Necromancer – Storch’s most solemn series, was taken during COVID-19 pandemic. It transmits an otherworldly atmosphere, reflecting his personal connection to nature and the spiritual, combining the two in a powerful narrative.

Additionally, in the Pavilion’s courtyard, the artist invites visitors to share his view of Sisimiut bay as seen from his own house through a large panoramic view. This outdoor installation features hammocks for visitors to sit in.

Artist and Curator Statements

Inuuteq Storch says, “The exhibition is extremely personal to me. I invite people to enter my home; meet my friends, my own family, myself, our common history, and roots. But it also becomes something more than personal, when I include them in my storytelling about Greenlanders on a broader scale. The story I want to tell is open-ended, but It's about Greenlanders, about belonging, and the complexities of personal and national identities.”

Louise Wolthers says, "Through his dynamic approach to photography, Inuuteq Storch provides multiple gateways into Kalaallit Nunaat/ Greenland, prompting an awareness of how we see. The exhibition's use of mirroring enhances this experience. Storch doesn't fix the meaning of photographs; instead, he empowers viewers to think, dream, and explore the potential histories within the images. This process allows for the unfolding of decolonial narratives.”

Publication

In conjunction with the exhibition, a new photo book titled Inuuteq Storch: Rise of the Sunken Sun, published by Strandberg Publishing is available for purchase. It includes an introduction by Louise Wolthers, an essay by Heather Igloliorte and representations of all the works in the exhibition.

Traveling Exhibition

Following the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Rise of the Sunken Sun, will travel and show at several international institutions including the Hasselblad Centre.

Useful information for the visit

Hours: Gardens from 10.00 to 19.00. Arsenale from 10.00 to 19.00 (from 10.00 to 20.00 on Friday and Saturday until September 30th). Closed on Mondays (except April 22, June 17, July 22, September 2, September 30, October 31, November 18).
Tickets: please visit the official website.
Phone: +39.041.5218711; fax +39.041.2728329
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: Biennale of Venice