Hello, Venice. Let’s Biennale.

Managing Director of Big Kahuna Imagineering, Will Colhoun, has touched down in the Floating City as a member of the Australian contingency to assist Hany Armanious with his exhibition at the 2011 Venice Biennale. Will’s official title: Specialist Contract Fabricator & Installation Installer (aka Hany’s dutiful slave to the curator).

Whilst in Venice, Will has the honour of facilitating the assembly and placement/installation of Hany’s 10-11 pieces being exhibited at this historical, world-renowned international art exhibition.

The Venice Biennale, or ‘La Biennale di Venezia, is considered the most important and prestigious event in the international contemporary arts world. First held in 1895, other countries only began installing national pavilions in 1907 to showcase their homegrown talent. Italian-born Australian artist Mr Dattilo-Rubbo attended the event in 1907 and discussed the idea of Australian participation with the Biennale authorities but Australia did not exhibit at the Venice Biennale until 1954.

The Australian Pavilion is nestled within the Biennale Gardens (Giardini di Castello) along with 28 other pavilions. First designed by Australian architect Philip Cox, the Australian Pavilion opened in 1988 and was gifted to the Commonwealth Government.

After World War I, the Biennale showed increasing interest in innovative traditions in modern art. Today, the Venice Biennale is one of the most important critical forums for contemporary visual art with thousands of the world’s leading artists, curators, collectors, gallery directors and critics attending, networking, discovering and discussing the latest in the contemporary art world. Some call it, the ‘Olympics of the visual arts world’.

This year, Sydney-based artist Hany Armanious will be solely representing Australia at the 54th Venice Biennale with his exhibition, The Golden Thread. And our master and commander will be doing his patriotic duty to the arts by serving as Hany’s service provider of choice.

In the weeks leading up to the opening of the exhibition on 4 June, Will’s duties will be to prepare Hany’s sculptures which means unpacking the pieces, remedying any minor freight damage, preparing their pavilion positions, administering any engineering requirements and assisting with any final dressing touches.

Keep an eye out on BKI’s BIG BLOG for Will’s behind-the-scenes account of what goes into preparing Australia’s sole exhibition at one of the world’s biggest art exhibitions.

Stay tuned….