Out and About, Venice Biennale 2011

The final photos from the Venice Biennale 2011. These pictures show some of my favourite works from the off-site exhibitions, including my favourite exhibition in the whole festival - the Portuguese Pavilion 'Scenario' by Francisco Tropa

However, we start at the Biennale Museum, this is the catalogue from the first Biennale exhibition in 1895.

And here, the first poster.

I loved this museum, the old posters and catalogues alongside the documentary photographs from the shows showed masterfully how tastes, styles, -isms, etc had developed and changed through the years.

But back to this years crop - Welsh artist Tim Davies, loved these postcards (obviously) so much!

Scot Karla Black's show was a great example of quality site responsive work, the space they were allocated was perfect

And now - my favourite - Francisco Tropa from Portugal, love, love, loved this so much, would love to bring this show to the UK!

Here are some works that I liked from the Asian 'Future Pass' shows (sorry for not having all the artist names)

Chen Zhiguang's 'Migrating Era'

Ward Walrath Kimball

And then I saw these, again apologies I didn't get all the names - if you know, please let me know!

Marina Abromovic

Glaser/Kunz 'Obsidian, Gordon & Austin' - an installation where the models spoke poetry to you, and it was really good

And finally, the Luxembourg Pavilion with work by Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil

The Arsenale, Venice Biennale 2011

The Arsenale at the Venice Biennale is the space that usually interets me the most (reminds me of TROVE maybe) and this year I would probably say I didn't prefer it to some of the other offsite shows.

I did, however, see more than just a few gems there - and here they are...

The first para-pavilion at the Arsenale by Song Dong.

Next, the work of Rashid Johnson.

A table full of miniature buildings? yes please - Andro Wekua

Loved this para-pavilion by Franz West, particularly the funny and rude film (not photographed)...

Nicholas Hlobo's massive sculpture, I really wanted to touch it

I do love a cabinet, especially a really long with gorgeous illustrations in that are then accompanied by a video - Mariana Castillo Deball.

Some lovely photography by Jean-Luc Mylayne.

Swoon, another amazing Haroon Mirza.

I loved these benches - can't remember who made them, but my favourite bit about them was that they were always accompanied by a 'Please do not sit' sign

The amazing James Turrell - never disappoints.

Love, love, loved the pieces by Gerard Byrne!

I loved the pieces by Elisabetta Benassi, they combined the archive, imagined collections with an old technology.

Urs Fischer - wow, these burnt candle sculptures were incredible.

I was so pleased to finally get to see Christian Marclay's 'The Clock' - we spent an hour watching it (and could have stayed longer thanks to the comfy sofas but had a lot left to see), transfixed and playing guess the film, in our hour Robert de Niro seemed to feature quite a lot, loved it.

Not sure if I enjoyed this cloud more because of the cool water cloud it produced or just because it was fun...

Loved these - reminded me Gormley...

And finally the funny animation by Frances Stark.