The original idea for "Havel's Place" came from the Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovič.
He invited Bořek Šípek, an architect and designer, to create a piece of art to celebrate President Václav Havel's democratic views.
Šípek designed two metal garden chairs and a table and placed them around a Linden Tree, the national tree of the Czech Republic. His idea was to create a gathering place in a public space to promote dialogue, discussion and freedom of speech.
On September 27, 2014 the sixth Havel's Place was unveiled on the Campus of the Venice International University, on the island of San Servolo.
Ambassador Umberto Vattani, President of the Venice International University, Petr Burianek, Czech Ambassador to Italy, Giorgio Boatto, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, Professor Agar Brugiavini, Dean of the Venice International University, and Bořek Šípek, the artist who created the piece, took part in the presentation of the sculpture.
More photos here
On the occasion of the 55th Venice Art Biennale, the exhibition Aquae, by Oliviero Rainaldi,is on show at VIU from May 29 to November 24, 2013.
The choice of the VIU campus, with its gardens and inner courtyards, as a setting for this exhibition represents an intriguing experiment for Oliviero Rainaldi and a stimulating opportunity for Professors and Students from all over the world who visit the island for their daily activities.
The theme of Water has already been explored by the Italian artist in two important exhibitions held in Villa Aldobrandini, Rome (2009), and in Villa Pisani, Venice (2010).
The way Rainaldi's works interacts with the unique setting of the VIU Campus, among the trees, the lagoon and the ancient buildings, is a special feature of the Exhibition.
The artworks confirm Oliviero Rainaldi's ability to experiment with different materials, such as glass, tin, bronze and gold. An 8-meter tall staele covered in gold leaf and running water will overlook the lagoon towards the Venice Giardini, representing the everlasting bond between Rainaldi and his old master and friend Fabio Mauri.
Free entrance
Exhibition dates: May 29 – November 24, 2013
Opening: May 29-30-31, 2013
Catalogue presentation: May 31, 2013 - 11 am
VIU is also a participant of Biennale Sessions, organizing a tour of the exhibition and a related seminar inside the Biennale spaces each year.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in Meetings on Art and Meetings on Architecture, a series of seminars and talks given by distinguished artists, curators, philosophers and theologists related to the theme of each edition of the Biennale.
"Il Veneto di Hemingway" is a VIU project supported by the Veneto Region. It is based on the idea of reconstructing and valorizing the Veneto through Hemingway's experience of the region during his stays in Italy from 1948 to 1954.
The scientific coordinator of the project is professor Gianni Moriani.
The first exihibition was held in Cortina between December 20, 2009 and January 24, 2010.
The second exhibition was held in Caorle between July 23,2010 and August 28,2010.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Hemingway's death, a third exhibition was held in Venice between April 2 and May 15, 2011.
In 2011, a series of collateral events took place in Venice:
- April 20, 2011, 6.00 pm, at Harry's Bar, listening to Hemingway's voice talking about one of his books.
- April 27, 2011, 6.00 pm, at Gritti Hotel, with Gianfranco Ivancich (Adriana's brother and Hemingway's friend).
- May 5, 2011, 6.00 pm, at "La Locanda Cipriani" in Torcello, with Memo, the gondolier that in 1948, together with his father, took Hemingway around the city for three days. - May 14, 2011, 11.30 am, at Rialto Market, reading of some Hemingway's works about the Rialto Market.
- October 14, 2011, 6.00 pm, at "La Locanda Cipriani in Torcello", book presentation : Rosella Mamoli Zorzi and Gianni Moriani, "A Venezia e nel Veneto con Ernest Hemingway"
In 2011, two exhbitions were held in New York: at the Gallery of the Brooklyn College Library in May and at the Casa Italiana Zerrilli Marimò from November 9 to December 15, 2011.
For more information on the project, videos and press release click here
The exhibition, after having been successfully presented in Rome and Florence, was opened to the public at VIU on November 9: about 80 photographs, ordered into six sections, trace the history of Italy, following the common threads of landscape transformations.
Therefore this is not an exhibition devoted to celebrating the beauties of the Italian landscape, nor is a systematic and complete indictment of the disasters that have irreparably destroyed large areas of the country. Rather it is an exhibition devoted to the transformation Italy has undergone, with different timing, speed and results, which in mabìny cases are still underway. It is a gallery of moving landscapes.
