Published: 21 September 2017
An inaugural Biennial is by its nature going to be concerned with the future, as much as it is organised for the moment, it is also has to be aware of its iteration in two years time, and the two years after that…
The central show of Coventry Biennial, titled The Future, is taking place in the former Coventry Evening Telegraph building in the City Centre. Visiting the building ahead of the launch on the 6th of October, it is evident how significant the space is to framing the exhibition and experience of it. From the huge industrial print spaces (now redundant due to advances in digital technology), to the Director’s stylish art-deco penthouse, to the fossils in the stone staircases - the building is a complex embodiment of ancient history, current affairs and future proofing.
Director Ryan Hughes describes the space as a ‘playground’ for artists, and as walls get painted, artwork is unpacked and the giant pink elephant is installed in the old Koi carp pond you really get a sense of enjoyment the team and artists at Coventry Biennial are having here. The scale of the Biennial is ambitious, but after meeting members from the many partner organisations it feels appropriate - this isn’t just bringing in work from outside the city, it is an opportunity to really demonstrate the abundance of contemporary art spaces and groups which operate in Coventry.
Director Ryan Hughes will be taking over the Axisweb Instagram from the 28-30th of September which you will be able to follow here>
Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art runs from 6 - 22 of October 2017.
You can check out the full information and programme on the Biennial website here>
Inside the CET Building