The Venice Biennale
History of the Venice Biennale
From the '70s to the reforms of 1998 (1974-1998)
1974
The four-year presidency of Carlo Ripa di Meana began (1974-1978). The International Art Exhibition was not held (it was resumed in 1976). Theatre and cinema events were held in October 1974 and 1975 under the title Libertą per il Cile (Freedom for Chile).
1976
July saw the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Archivio Storico delle Arti Contemporanee (the ASAC, Historical Archives of Contemporary Arts), in palazzo di Ca' Corner della Regina at San Stae, Venice.
1977
On 15th November, the so-called 'Biennale of dissent' (international and of the USSR) opened. Because of the controversies that ensued, president Ripa di Meana tendered his resignation for a time.
1978
A quotation by Kandinsky, "great abstraction, great realism" provided the starting point for the Art Exhibition, divided into six "stations", with the title "From nature to art, from art to nature".
1979
Under the presidency of Giuseppe Galasso (1979-1982), the principle was laid down whereby each of the artistic sectors was to have a permanent director to organise its activity.
1980
The Architecture sector was set up: the director, Paolo Portoghesi, opened the Corderie dell'Arsenale to the public for the first time, transforming them into a "strada novissima". The first Aperto section for young artists was arranged by Achille Bonito Oliva and Harald Szeemann in the Magazzini del Sale, as part of the 39th Art Exhibition directed by Luigi Carluccio. At the Mostra del Cinema, the awards were brought back into being (between 1969 and 1979, the editions were non-competitive): Golden Lion for best film ex aequo to Atlantic City by Louis Malle and Gloria by John Cassavetes. Maurizio Scaparro launched the Carnevale del Teatro throughout Venice. Aldo Rossi produced the "Teatro del Mondo" in Bacino San Marco.
