Portugal's touring pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia

The Portuguese pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia (1 June - 24 November 2013) is a touring ferryboat upgraded by artist Joana Vasconcelos to the art project 'Trafaria Praia'. Portugal's pavilion by Joana Vasconcelos is a multifunctional art-culture-venue-water vehicle which will travel twice a day through Venice between the Giardini and the Punta della Dogana/Fondation François Pinault.

The Portuguese representation at Venice looks from far like a common transportation water vehicle; similar to a Venetian vaporetto. By coming closer the viewer will see that the ship is clothed with a panel of typical Portuguese blue and white hand-painted ceramic tiles inspired by 'The Great Panorama' tiles from Lisbon's Museu Nacional do Azulejo (National Tiles Museum), while inside the ship lights and fabrics like felts and knits are the outfits for a dreamy deep space.

The ship is not only a swimming venue. The floating pavilion is an artwork with historical references to Lisbon which is since the Middle Ages, Renaissance - similar to Venice at that times, a prominent trading city at the sea (today, Lisbon is one of the most important container ports in Europe), it pays homage to the culture of Portugal by incorporating typical tiles and fabrics, and it is a transport vehicle as it carries the visitors as art-venue-vaporetto on a route nearby the Giardini where it will anchor.

It is announced that the swimming pavilion will travel twice a day between the Giardini and the Punta della Dogana/Fondation François Pinault or, as an alternative, around the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and between the Giardini and the Lido de Venezia. Find out more on vasconcelostrafariapraia.com.

Video: Artist Joana Vasconcelos introduces into the 'Trafaria Praia'. From 1 June until 24 November 2013, the artwork-ferryboat is the touring Portuguese pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia.

fig.: Making-of 'Trafaria Praia' by Joana Vasconcelos for Portugal's representation at La Biennale di Venezia in 2013. The artist's project refers to the shared history of Lisbon (capital city of Portugal) and Venice. Image: two women at the Atelier Joana Vasconcelos sitting around a table while crocheting yarn in whites and sea blues. Image: the ferry 'Trafaria Praia' in 2013 at a harbour. The ship is Portugal's pavilion and at the same time art project by Joana Vasconcelos at the Biennale di Venezia from 1 June until 24 November 2013. Photos by Luis Vasconcelos; (C) Unidade Infinita Projectos.

Source: Original article with images and video on https://www.fashion.at/culture/2013/portugal-venicebiennale5-2013.htm.

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