Latest news with #61stVeniceBiennale
Euronews
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
HBO unveils newcomers as leads for Harry Potter TV series
HBO has revealed the three new young actors who will play the much coveted lead roles in the new Harry Potter television series, one of the most eagerly anticipated for years. After a long, extraordinary worldwide search for British children aged between 9 and 11, Dominic McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will be Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout is Ron Weasley. The trio are at the very start of their careers with only Stanton registering a significant acting credit having played the lead in 'Matilda: The Musical' on London's West End. In a statement by Warner Bros Discovery, showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner and director executive producer Mark Mylod said: "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter books by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. Each season is expected to adapt a single book from one of the world's most popular and valuable franchises starting with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The show is also executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. The curatorial vision for the 61st Venice Biennale, 'In Minor Keys', was revealed in Venice today in an emotional presentation at the Sala delle Colonne of Ca' Giustinian, the Biennale's historic headquarters. Originally set for announcement later this year, the theme was unveiled ahead of schedule following the sad and unexpected death of the exhibition's curator, Koyo Kouoh, on 10 May. A leading figure in promoting Pan-Africanism throughout the art world, Kouoh had served as executive director and chief curator at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa since 2019. She earned global acclaim for curating the 2022 exhibition When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, a monumental historical show inspired by Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, and became the first African woman invited to lead the Venice Art Biennale in December 2024. With the support of Kouoh's family, La Biennale di Venezia confirmed it will proceed with the 2026 exhibition exactly as she conceived it, in what will now be a posthumous tribute to her life's work. As they noted, the edition will explore the spaces in which minor keys operate, to conceive "an exhibition that invites listening to the persistent signals of earth and life, connecting to soul frequencies. If in music, the minor keys are often associated with strangeness, melancholy, and sorrow, here their joy, solace, hope, and transcendence manifest as well." Scheduled to run from 9 May to 22 November 2026, 'In Minor Keys' will take place across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various venues throughout Venice. The full list of participating artists, the exhibition's visual identity, and national pavilions will be officially announced at a press conference on 25 February 2026.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Venice Art Biennale to honour late curator Koyo Kouoh with 2026 exhibition ‘In Minor Keys'
The curatorial vision for the 61st Venice Biennale, 'In Minor Keys', was revealed in Venice today in an emotional presentation at the Sala delle Colonne of Ca' Giustinian, the Biennale's historic headquarters. Originally set for announcement later this year, the theme was unveiled ahead of schedule following the sad and unexpected death of the exhibition's curator, Koyo Kouoh, on 10 May. A leading figure in promoting Pan-Africanism throughout the art world, Kouoh had served as executive director and chief curator at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa since 2019. She earned global acclaim for curating the 2022 exhibition When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, a monumental historical show inspired by Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, and became the first African woman invited to lead the Venice Art Biennale in December 2024. Related Koyo Kouoh, 2026 Venice Art Biennale curator, dies suddenly aged 58 Bahrain wins top prize at Venice Architecture Biennale with a pavilion tackling extreme heat With the support of Kouoh's family, La Biennale di Venezia confirmed it will proceed with the 2026 exhibition exactly as she conceived it, in what will now be a posthumous tribute to her life's work. As they noted, the edition will explore the spaces in which minor keys operate, to conceive "an exhibition that invites listening to the persistent signals of earth and life, connecting to soul frequencies. If in music, the minor keys are often associated with strangeness, melancholy, and sorrow, here their joy, solace, hope, and transcendence manifest as well." Scheduled to run from 9 May to 22 November 2026, 'In Minor Keys' will take place across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various venues throughout Venice. The full list of participating artists, the exhibition's visual identity, and national pavilions will be officially announced at a press conference on 25 February 2026.
Euronews
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Venice Biennale to honour late curator Koyo Kouoh with 2026 exhibition
The curatorial vision for the 61st Venice Biennale, 'In Minor Keys', was revealed in Venice today in an emotional presentation at the Sala delle Colonne of Ca' Giustinian, the Biennale's historic headquarters. Originally set for announcement later this year, the theme was unveiled ahead of schedule following the sad and unexpected death of the exhibition's curator, Koyo Kouoh, on 10 May. A leading figure in promoting Pan-Africanism throughout the art world, Kouoh had served as executive director and chief curator at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa since 2019. She earned global acclaim for curating the 2022 exhibition When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, a monumental historical show inspired by Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, and became the first African woman invited to lead the Venice Art Biennale in December 2024. With the support of Kouoh's family, La Biennale di Venezia confirmed it will proceed with the 2026 exhibition exactly as she conceived it, in what will now be a posthumous tribute to her life's work. As they noted, the edition will explore the spaces in which minor keys operate, to conceive "an exhibition that invites listening to the persistent signals of earth and life, connecting to soul frequencies. If in music, the minor keys are often associated with strangeness, melancholy, and sorrow, here their joy, solace, hope, and transcendence manifest as well." Scheduled to run from 9 May to 22 November 2026, 'In Minor Keys' will take place across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various venues throughout Venice. The full list of participating artists, the exhibition's visual identity, and national pavilions will be officially announced at a press conference on 25 February 2026.
The Guardian
22-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Artists who represented Australia at Venice Biennale call for Khaled Sabsabi to be reinstated
Living artists who have represented Australia at the Venice Biennale over the past five decades – and the estates of a number of now deceased artists who have done the same – have signed an open letter to the board and chief executive of Creative Australia to reinstate sacked artist Khaled Sabsabi and his curator Michael Dagostino. Some of Australia's most distinguished living artists, including Imants Tillers, Mike Parr, Susan Norrie, Fiona Hall, Judy Watson, Patricia Piccinini and Tracey Moffat have signed the petition, as has the estate of Howard Arkley who represented Australia in Venice more than a quarter of a century ago. 'As artists who have represented Australia at the Venice Biennale, we strongly protest the removal of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino as the artistic team for the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026,' the open letter states. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'The Venice Biennale is a rare and critical platform for Australian artists. Being selected is an extraordinary honour, and to strip the chosen artistic team of this opportunity is unacceptable. 'Indeed it signals a fundamental disregard for the role of artists in our society – especially by the very institution meant to defend them.' That institution, the Australian government's principal arts investment and advisory body, Creative Australia, is scheduled to appear before a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday. However, it will be up to the Greens and independents to interrogate Creative Australia's chief executive Adrian Collette, over allegations the body came under political pressure to rescind the Venice contract. It was a Coalition senator, Claire Chandler, who first raised objections to Sabsabi's selection as Australia's representative almost two weeks ago during question time, on the grounds the Lebanese-born Australian artist represented former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Osama bin Laden, and depictions of the 11 September terrorist attacks in earlier artwork. The Labor senators Jenny McAllister and Tim Ayres will be expected to answer questions about who knew what and when, as both the arts minister, Tony Burke, and Labor's special envoy for the arts, Susan Templeman, are in the House of Representatives. Burke has admitted he called Collette immediately after question time, but has insisted he played no role in pressuring Creative Australia's board, which met a few hours later, to disendorse Sabsabi and Dagostino. 'I made clear to Adrian Collette, who I have known for more than a decade, I said to him whatever you decide, I will support you and I will support Creative Australia,' Burke said last Monday. Collette has not responded to repeated requests from the Guardian to comment but told an all staff meeting last Thursday that Sabsabi and Dagostino would not be reinstated, sources said. The Guardian understands Collette indicated he did not believe his role had become 'untenable'. One of the art works at the centre of the controversy, a 2007 video work called You, features images of the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last year. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Hezbollah was not listed as a terrorist group until 2021, although the Australian government had listed its External Security Organisation military wing as a terrorist organisation in 2003. Late on Friday, Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, which owns You, said Creative Australia's backflip had damaged Australia's international reputation and undercut the principle of freedom of expression, the Australian Financial Review reported. Another question Collette is expected to be asked on Monday is why under the government's new national cultural policy Burke has instituted music and literature boards, yet there remains no board to represent Australia's visual arts. There is only one visual arts representative on Creative Australia's board – Lindy Lee – who resigned the day after the board met, posting on social media that her board's vote to rescind Sabsabi's contract had left her feeling 'deeply conflicted'. 'I could not live the level of violation I felt against one of my core values – that the artist's voice must never be silenced,' she said. 'We live in very fractured, broken times. There is a lot of hurt out there. More than ever the artist's voice is needed.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘No artist' will want to represent Australia at Venice Biennale after Sabsabi dumped, former museum head says
The Australian Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale is likely to remain dark next year for the first time, the former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art says. Elizabeth Ann Macgregor on Tuesday weighed into the fracas over Creative Australia's decision to rescind its Venice Biennale contract to Lebanese-born Australia artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino, just six days after announcing the pair would be Australia's representatives at the 2026 prestigious international art event. 'Did Creative Australia honestly think they could just ring up the next artist on the shortlist? Well, they've all already made it very clear that none of them will be accepting the offer,' Macgregor told Guardian Australia on Tuesday. 'No artists worth their soul will touch that pavilion now. They can't. It's totally tainted. And it's so tragic.'Creative Australia's executive director, Adrian Collette, told staff at an angry meeting on Monday that the public outcry would have been greater than the one he now finds himself embroiled in, if the Sabsabi exhibition had gone ahead. The fallout occurred after earlier works by the artist came to light that drew controversy from some politicians and media outlets for containing depictions of deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. One of those works, You, a 2007 video installation that includes images of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was given to the MCA by Sabsabi in 2009, during Macgregor's tenure, and remains in the museum's collection today. Related: Guardian Essential poll: Labor's policies appear unknown to voters as major parties neck and neck Macgregor said questions now needed to be asked about the future tenure of Collette as head of the Australian government's arts funding, development and advisory body, and the position of advertising executive Robert Morgan as the organisation's chair. Macgregor said arts minister Tony Burke had questions to answer. Burke confirmed on Monday he contacted Collette immediately after question time on Thursday, when Sabsabi's choice for the 2026 biennale was called into question by Liberal senator Claire Chandler. 'Normally I don't get involved in the decisions, but when something's due to be announced, I get sent up a brief with … what different issues that might be considered controversial,' Burke said. 'I rang Adrian to find out what had happened. At that point, he had already determined that they were going to have a board meeting that night. 'I was very clear. I made clear to Adrian Collette, who I have known for more than a decade, I said to him whatever you decide, I will support you and I will support Creative Australia.' Other than issuing a written statement last Friday, the artist and the curator have not spoken out since. Macgregor told the Guardian Australia's reputation on the international art scene had been damaged. 'I've had messages from around the world, people asking what on earth is going on in Australia?' she said. 'This not only reflects badly on arts leadership in this country, it reflects badly on our political system, with two major parties point scoring on the basis of an article sitting behind a firewall,' she said, referring to last week's The Australian column which accused Sabsabi of 'seemingly laud[ing] a terrorist leader in his past work'. She said the MCA work in question, You, had been the subject of many 'incredibly interesting conversations' the museum had had with the public and school groups during her time as head of the institution, which in 2019 was named the most visited museum of contemporary art in the world. 'In no way was that work a glorification [of Nasrallah]. Art is complex, you have to read it within context. Many people have given different interpretations of it. And surely we have to allow space for that, even in this day of instant social media.' Macgregor said You, and another Sabsabi work also singled out for criticism, called Thank You Very Much, featuring images of the 9/11 attacks and a clip of US president George Bush saying 'thank you very much', were created almost two decades ago, and in a very different context. 'Khaled is not an angry young man doing provocative work that's going to get everybody angry in the Venice pavilion, far from it,' she said. 'He's an experienced senior artist working with a very experienced curator who has managed many, many difficult projects. These are not people who are deliberately trying to provoke some sort of horrible backlash. That's just not what the proposal is about. On Creative Australia's own website it says the work will be about creating empathy from different positions, bringing people together, community engagement through art.' Macgregor said she was disappointed in the 'lack of arts leadership' at an organisational level and at the 'deafening silence' from large arts institutions over the past week. 'Have they been silenced because their boards are worried about their funding and are telling them to remain silent?' she asked. The horrific conflict in Gaza and the rise in antisemitic acts in Australia has created a tense community environment as the country heads into a federal election, Macgregor acknowledged. But that should not be a reason to disallow artists to engage with those events through their work. 'Should Creative Australia now issue an edict saying no one dealing with any subject of war can create work that is funded by the taxpayer? And are they going to go back through the social media accounts of any artist who gets a commission, to see what they've been doing or saying 15 or 20 years ago? 'This whole issue has set an extremely dangerous precedent.'
