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| GIANT IN JUBILEE AND IN CHANGES Laima Slava This year Venice biennial was held for the 50th time, and this would have been the third time when Latvia as a conscientious, self-respecting country would have participated in it in order - and let us be frank about it - to look at its events finally with down to earth look. Accumulation of routine experience when the mind is not blinded by sheer rapture of the mere fact of participation but the basis for the pragmatic calculation for the next step is formed will be missed by Latvia this time. It is even more sad because this year's event was very open, democratic presentation with many meeting points for the young artists, with public discussions, possibilities of contact formation for the art curators who had gathered in unusually large numbers at this year's biennial. A particularly communicable and open place was "Utopia Station" with its programme of events, films and discussions. F5 project would have fitted in into the general atmosphere of the new media and I even venture to say that it would have excelled for its professional and aesthetic qualities. The permission given by the biennial organizers to F5 project to participate in the catalogue is another testimony to it. Indeed I would like to see what accepted degree of genius would crown the project that will have the luck to represent Latvia next time! Although there is always a possibility not to participate altogether. Like in the case of Venezuela whose artists expressly refused from the participation protesting against the regime ruling in their country. Even the long-standing non-participant China broke its status of an outsider in order to accentuate its participation with a number of representative events. |
| INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESCO BONAMI Laima Slava Together with the German radio reporter Claudia Henne we patiently waited for the possibility to interview Francesco Bonami. I thank her for solidarity and support! |
