Venice Biennale: Joana Vasconcelos
Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos transforms a Lisbon ferryboat into a floating pavilion for her Venice Biennale project, ‘Trafaria Praia’.
The project for the Portugese pavilion connects the home of the Biennale (Venice) and the capital of Portugal (Lisbon) and aims to highlight the commonalities between the two cities. Vasconcelos suggests that the fundamental aspects they share are water, navigation and the ferry.
In particular Vasconcelos draws a connection between the Lisbon ferryboat, the Cacilheiro, and the Venetian Vaporetto – both playing a fundamental role in their respective city’s transportation. Vasconcelos has brought a Cacilheiro to Venice and presented it as the Portugese Paviliion.
The exterior of the ship is adorned with hand painted ceramic tiles that reproduce a view of Lisbon’s skyline. The boat’s deck is reminiscent of the ocean; an woven textile installation embedded with LED lights merges the walls and ceilings. The Cacilheiro moves around the lagoon at various intervals and takes its audience for a journey.
‘Trafaria Praia’ is on display until Sunday 24 November 2013 and is moored at Riva dei Partigiana/Laguna di Venezia, Venice.
This post forms part of fluoro’s coverage of the 55th Venice Biennale.
