First Human Rights Pavilion
Art can only flourish in an atmosphere of freedom from fear, violence and repression. The universal language of arts is the most powerful and joyful medium to promote the universal values of human rights.
While many of the existing national and thematic pavilions established as parts of the Biennale are at least partly exhibiting the works of artists who are themselves human rights activists or who aim at engaging with a human rights issue through their art, what is lacking so far is a coordinated effort to draw on the full potential that art has in this regard. In order to do so and to amplify the human rights messages that art can send, the proposed Human Rights Pavilion will present a unique and supranational platform for:
- exhibiting carefully curated pieces of art that provoke a debate on current challenges to human rights;
- engaging actively with human rights issues through the lens of the arts, in different media, with the aim of promoting synergies between the two;
- fostering a new human rights culture that is coined by dialogue, tolerance and innovation;
- connecting artists, members of civil society, NGOs, IOs, politicians and academia through the involvement of the vast network of the Global Campus of Human Rights and the creation of content around the art (seminars, workshops, conferences etc.).
The overall aim is to create a narrative around the featured artworks by underpinning the exhibition with academic expertise and educational activities. Acting as a convener space, bringing together the know-how, experience and network of both organizing institutions – EIUC and Fondazione Berengo – and linking the arts with human rights education and research, the Human Rights Pavilion will constitute an essential and unique addition at the same time of the Biennale Arte 2019.
Where? The headquarters of the two institutions are Palazzo Franchetti by the Grand Canal & a Murano furnace for Fondazione Berengo, and the Monastery of San Nicolò for EIUC/Global Campus of Human Rights. |
