Francis Upritchard
Save Yourself
Rappresentante ufficiale della Nuova Zelanda alla Biennale d'Arte di
Venezia
con la collaborazione di Fondazione Claudio Buziol

“Voglio creare un paesaggio visionario che faccia riferimento alle
opere illusionistiche dei pittori medioevali Hieronymus Bosch e Pieter
Brueghel e che allo stesso tempo attinga alla retorica utopistica
della controcultura della fine degli Anni ’60, al futurismo alto-
modernista e ai sogni alterati dei sopravvissuti, dei millenari e
degli esiliati sociali.” – Francis Upritchard

L’istallazione Save Yoursefl [Salvati] di Francis Upritchard
comprenderà gruppi di figure e strutture distribuite nelle tre
eleganti stanze all’interno della Fondazione Claudio Buziol. Ogni
gruppo occupa un paesaggio immaginario che esiste in un indeterminato
periodo storico e unisce l’antico e il futuristico, rendendo la scena
allo stesso tempo familiare e inquietante.

Le figure che popolano queste scene fantastiche sono descritte da una
superficie psichedelica e una qualità artigianale. Sono investigatori,
sognatori, danzatori, consumati dai loro atti meditativi o persi nei
loro sogni ad occhi aperti. L’istallazione unisce l’antico e il
futuristico, rendendo la scena allo stesso tempo familiare e
inquietante. L’opera esplora i concetti di tempo, speranza,
cambiamento evolutivo e mostra i limiti tra arte alta e applicata
provata attraverso il ricco sfondo offerto dal palazzo veneziano.


Judy Millar, Giraffe-Bottle-Gun
La Maddalena, Campo della Maddalena, Strada Nova, Cannaregio

Francis Upritchard, Save Yourself
Fondazione Claudio Buziol, Palazzo Mangilli-Valmarana, Cannaregio


New Zealand returns to the Venice Biennale for a fourth time with two artists in two venues.

Judy Millar creates a site specific installation for Venice’s only circular church, La Maddalena, that pushes viewers up close to her visceral, gestural canvases; it’s an immersive experience. The colour courses through the church, almost spilling out onto the piazza outside; this energetic work takes us into a new space.

Francis Upritchard installs a series of tableaux in three second floor rooms that look out over the Grand Canal of an exquisite Venetian palazzo. She uses the palazzo’s ornate mirrors to backlight and reflect table-height scenes of figures, illuminated by her hand-made lamps. The figures are quasi human: figurative and yet small enough to be dolls; so highly coloured as to suggest they come from another world.

Millar and Upritchard reflect Birnbaum’s theme of Making Worlds with these intense microcosms, one in a place of worship, the other in an intimate former residence. They both insist on a space for the contemporary in the antique Venetian landscape. Add to this the fact that these artists are committed makers: the physical aspect of Judy’s mark-making is emphatic, whilst Francis’ intensively worked figures reveal a long process of modelling, baking and painting: both overtly enjoy the ‘work’ element of making.

The venues are a short distance apart, parallel to the Grand Canal on one of the prominent walking routes between Venice's train station and the Rialto, in Cannareggio.

The exhibitions will be launched on 3 June starting with an early morning procession through the streets of Venice to both venues led by a Māori kaumatua who will give the traditional New Zealand blessing of inauguration to the exhibitions. This will be followed by a spectacular powhiri (Māori welcome ceremony) by a 20-strong award-winning Kapa Haka group and breakfast in St Mark’s Square, accompanied by a performance by Moana and the Tribe.

Both projects are being developed in association with commissioner Jenny Harper and are initiatives of Creative New Zealand, the Arts Council of New Zealand, Toi Aotearoa.