Fondation Lab’Bel, Venice
The very active artistic laboratory Lab’Bel, created in 2010 and directed by Laurent Fiévet, invades the Venice Biennale with an enlivening series of performances, 435 Ponti e qualche scorciatoia [435 Bridges and Some Shortcuts].
In 2015, Michael Staab’s Concertino Unisono, the first of the series of “3 Easy Pieces” produced by Lab’Bel, was presented at Piazza San Marco. Now the second piece, 435 Ponti e qualche scorciatoia, curated by Silvia Guerra, artistic director of Lab’Bel, also hits the streets. Based on long-term collaboration with Venetians – local institutions, artisans, musicians, and residents – this project displays the earmarks of Fluxus, whose energy percolates through the entire series. Enacted by David Horvitz, a poet and artist based in Los Angeles, the project consists of a walk through a city that is occasionally plagued by tidal flooding (acqua alta). The artist attempts, in one night, to cross all the bridges in Venice. During his residency Horvitz will develop a host of projects in collaboration with Venetians – tour guides, organists, artisans, ice cream makers – who will be active throughout the Biennale. Why has Lab’Bel chosen Venice? “The central idea was to work in a city full of history, whose layout and architecture lend themselves particularly well to the principle of site-based ‘performance’ (that of the Biennale) where the city is put into perspective by other artists and logics of production and circulation,” said Laurent Fiévet. “Moreover, we were already familiar with the city due to the fact that Silvia Guerra, artistic director of Lab’Bel and curator of the first two pieces, did some of her studies there, as well as her professional training. Her knowledge of the city and its residents informs the uniqueness of ‘3 Easy Pieces’ as well as several of their particularly strong moments.”
“David Horvitz: 435 Ponti e qualche scorciatoia.” Venice, various locations. May 7 – November 24.