The 53rd edition has arrived, and after 120 years of history, the Biennale is always the most eagerly awaited event for contemporary art lovers all over the world.

“Fare Mondi” (Make Worlds) is the title that the new director, the Swedish critic Daniel Birnbaum, has chosen for the 53rd. International Exhibition of Art which is held at the Giardini and the Arsenale from 7th June until 22nd November 2009 (previews from 4th to 6th June) The title refers to the artist’s act of creating the work of art,is the realization of the ’vision of the world’ of he who creates it. The creative act therefore will be central to Birnbaum’s exhibition and his Biennale will be very aware – with apposite dedicated spaces – to the processes of production of work and the training of the public, another step towards opening the doors of contemporary art to those who don’t know it. “Fare Mondi” will also analyze the relationship between some key artists in the story of contemporary art and the successive generations: the way in which the new artists have been influenced and inspired by them. Following this line, the Biennale has already announced the awarding of two ’leoni d’or’ for career to two “great oldies” of the history of contemporary art: Yoko Ono, pioneer of performance and conceptual art, and John Baldessari, one of the most important visual artists and the most authoritative teacher of the history of art. There are many new things that await the visitors this year. Starting from the extension of the Pavilion dedicated to Italian art: the space at the end of the Arsenale will increase from 800 to 1,800 m.q. including the adja cent Tesa previously a theater, and its entrance will look on to the Giardini delle Vergini; the new bridge that will connect the Arsenale to the sestiere of Castello, under construction at this time, which will connect to the city. The central Pavilion in the Giardini will give up its name of “Padiglione Italia”, and return to being called “Palazzo delle Esposizioni della Biennale” (Palazzo of Exhibition of the Biennale), where part of the international exhibition will be held. So enlarged, the new Italian Pavilion at the Arsenale will be able to host “Collaudi”, a true autonomous exhibition dedicated to Filippo Tommaso Martinetti, organized by the Ministry for heritage and cultural activity. (extract from Elena Casadoro)