Xu Deqi: Art Is Not That Heavy

When discussing the Venice Biennale, the art world is intimately familiar with this institution. Established in 1895 with over a century of history, the Venice Biennale stands as one of Europe’s—and indeed the world's—most significant art events, often hailed as the "Olympics of the Art World." Characterized by its strong spirit of exploration, it represents prevailing trends in art development, and artists worldwide consider participation an honor. Pioneering Chinese avant-garde artists like Chen Yifei, Xu Bing, Fang Lijun, Wang Guangyi, Cai Guoqiang, and Lü Shengzhong were among the first cohort to feature in the Biennale’s main exhibition.

In May 2015, as the 56th Venice Biennale approached, Xu Deqi—associate professor at Shandong Normal University and renowned contemporary artist—was invited to participate in the San Marino National Pavilion. Our reporter interviewed Xu, who was working intensively to prepare his exhibition pieces.

Jinan Times: Have you previously participated in the Venice Biennale?

Xu Deqi: I’ve taken part three times before, though not in the main exhibition. Venetian galleries hosted my shows during the Biennale. The Venice Biennale is an artistic extravaganza—a gathering of artists, critics, and journalists—offering a great opportunity for artists to present themselves. That said, securing a spot in a national pavilion remains relatively challenging.

许德奇——艺术没有那么沉重

谈到威尼斯双年展，艺术圈的人们并不陌生，威尼斯双年展诞生于1895年，至今已有上百年的历史，是欧洲乃至全世界最重要的艺术活动之一。被人喻为艺术界的盛会。威尼斯双年展带有很强的探索性，代表着艺术发展的趋势，全世界的艺术家都以能够参加威尼斯双年展为荣。陈逸飞、徐冰、方力钧、王广义、蔡国强、吕胜中等前卫艺术家是中国较早进入威尼斯双年展主展的一批艺术家。２０１５年５月，第五十六届威尼斯双年展即将举办，山东师范大学副教授、著名当代艺术家许德奇先生应邀参加此次展览的圣马力诺国家馆。记者就此专访了正在紧锣密鼓准备展览作品的许德奇。

济南时报：您以前参与过威尼斯双年展吗？

许德奇：之前参与过三次，但并没有进入主展，是威尼斯的画廊在双年展期间为我举办的展览。威尼斯双年展是一个艺术盛会，双年展期间艺术家、评论家、记者云集，是艺术家展示自己的好机会。不过，进入国家馆还是比较难的。（《济南时报》记者：臧文涛）