Artist Sigalit Landau to represent Israel at 2011 Venice Biennale

By Avital Burg

Sigalit Landau will be Israel's representative at the 2011 Venice Art Biennale, the art and culture committee of the Ministry of Culture and Sport decided in an unanimous vote Sunday.

"Sigalit Landau has provided more than enough proof of her profound ability to create a world that is energetic, coherent, experiential and brilliant," said the committee members. "Her extensive body of work is rich in detail, a product of her historical and cultural vision; executed by a practiced hand with an inventive and intriguing use of materials, inspiration and dexterity. Her impressive exhibitions are planned as giant installations that communicate with the exhibition space.

"Every world created by Landau thus far is witness to her unending passion, and to the forcefulness with which she channels her anxieties as a woman and an Israeli about present-day issues, both universal and regional," the jury said. Landau is currently in Thailand. She was informed of the committee's choice, but could not be reached for comment.

The committee is chaired by Idit Amichai, who represents the ministry. Other members are Naomi Aviv, David Ginton, Dr. Vered Ganai, Yitzhak Livni and Dr. Shlomit Shaked.

Naomi Givon of the Givon Gallery in Tel Aviv, who is in contact with Landau, said that she understood that the artist's Biennale project would be "based on co-existence on the human plane, and the chronology of settlement in pre-state Israel. Given Israel's standing in the world today, this project is more likely to contribute to the country's foreign relations than verbal explanations by ambassadors and official representatives. Landau depicts the significance of 'live and let live' in multi-cultural Israeli society. It's an excellent opportunity to call for co-existence in our multi-faceted region."

Landau will select a curator for the exhibit.

Culture Minister Limor Livnat congratulated Landau, saying that she "faithfully represents the lively Israeli art scene, and Israeli culture at its best."

Landau was born in Jerusalem in 1969. She lives and works Tel Aviv. In 2008 she had a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and her work is currently on display as part of a group show at the Pompidou Center in Paris.

She has received awards including the Wolf Fund Anslem Kiefer Prize for young artists, the Acquisitions Prize and the Gottesdiener Prize from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and the Israel Culture Minister's Prize.

Extract from www.haaretz.com, April 08, 2010