A Dead Cat, Creativity And Sustainability

Florence Biennale – 11th Edition, October 2017.

- Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar, PhD

Jacopo Celona is the Florence Biennale’s Executive Director and Dr. Melanie Zefferino is the chief curator of the Florence Biennale. Art Market Magazine will dedicate a cover article to the Biennale in this July issue.

The Skype interview begins with some technical difficulties. Dr. Zefferino’s video isn’t working. Instead of her image, there is an image of a handsome cat.

Asaf: Hello. There is no video yet, I cannot see you.

Melanie: Can you see me now? Is it working?

Asaf: No. I can only see a cat.

Melanie: No, this cat is dead. It’s been a Persian cat, and it died young.

Finally, it works.

The 11th edition of the Florence Biennale will take place in the Fortezza da Basso. Thousands of visitors are expected every day.

Asaf: In two months’ time there will be a climax of many months of preparation. What is it that you are mostly looking forward to personally?

Jacopo: There will be numerous of performances and installations by artists, a lot of them are closely linked to the theme of this edition: EARTH: Creativity and Sustainability. I like to think that all participating artists in the Florence Biennale deserve to be discovered. In fact, one of the most interesting things is the possibility to speak directly with artists and dialogue directly with those who produce and live art. It's like getting into the artist's studio and breathing his own air. It's a magical thing.

Melanie: