By Shane Lions, Head of Visual Arts
In September, our Grade 11 DP Art students spent 4 days scouring the entirety of Venice for the 2024 Art Biennale.
There were immersive environments and works representing artists from all over the globe. They all worked under a common theme of 'Stranieri Ovunque: Foreigners Everywhere', a phrase derived from the name of a Turin collective that fought racism and xenophobia in Italy in the early 2000s. The entire show functioned as a critical conversation surrounding global identity and the liminal space we currently occupy, considering the impacts of information technology, migration, conflict and outsider communities.
Our Visual Arts students spent a full day at the national pavilions in the Giardini, another full day at the international exhibition at the Arsenale, then two half days adventuring around the exhibition sites across the city. They used their sketchbooks and cameras to document and record a wide range of innovative art making practices to inspire artistic processes for their own Diploma Exhibitions in March 2026.
The trip was an overwhelming success, and students have immediately incorporated the richness of their first hand experiences into their work. Absolute highlights for our group were Pierre Huyghe at the Punta Della Dogana, Jeffrey Gibson at the American Pavilion, Archie Moore at the Australian Pavilion, and Manal AlDowayan at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion.
Vera F, writes:
'The 2024 Venice Biennale trip was an incredibly insightful and unforgettable experience. Sketching our way through impressive and immersive artworks not only helped develop our ideas for our own 2026 Art Exhibition but also brought us together as a class, allowing us to connect through our creative and expressive visions. From witnessing astonishing international artwork to sharing memorable meals and reflecting on the day's experiences, the trip was truly one-of-a-kind. My time in Venice with the 2026 Visual Arts class will forever be a cherished memory being a true trip of a lifetime.'