The Biennale de Paris (English: Paris Biennale) is a noted French art festival, established in 1959. In 1983, the organization ceased functions, until its reestablishment in 2000 with the first exhibition of the new era occurring in 2004. The Biennale's mission is to promote art and artists which challenge current conventions in the art world. The Biennale de Paris rejects exhibitions and art objects. It refuses to be "thought by art". It identifies and defends true alternatives. It calls for "non-standard practices".

History

Inspired by the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Art Biennial, the 'Biennale de Paris' was created by André Malraux, the Minister of Culture, in 1959 and headed by Raymond Cogniat. Cogniat held the position as director until 1967, when he resigned due to health concerns. He was succeeded by Jacques Lassaigne who lead the institution until its decommissioning in 1985. The initial goal of the Biennale was to present an overview of young creativity worldwide and to create a place of experiences and meetings; this was achieved partly with an international jury and the institution of an upper age limit of 35 years for submitted artists. Held every two years from 1959 to 1985, it was eventually decommissioned by the Ministry of Culture for a multitude of reasons including the rise of competing art exhibitions in Paris and the removal of the age requirements for artists. After its decommissioning, there were several failed attempts to revive the exhibition. In 1993, Alfred Pacquement headed attempts to restore and finance a new edition of the Biennale, but the plans were ultimately dropped. In 2000, Alexandre Gurita headed the reestablishment of the Biennale as a public institution with a focus on challenging and pushing conventions of contemporary art. With support from contemporary artists and art critics, the Biennale put on its first exhibition since 1985 in 2004, and continues to run with its emphasis on non-traditional art forms.

Presentations of the Biennale

1959 Edition

From the 2nd to the 25th of October 1959, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1961 Edition

From the 29th of September to the 5th of November 1961, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1963 Edition

From the 28th of September to the 3rd of November 1963, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1965 Edition

From the 28th of September to the 3rd of November 1965, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1967 Edition

From the 29th of September to the 5th of November 1967, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1969 Edition

From the 24th of September to the 1st of November 1969, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1971 Biennale

From the 15th of September to the 21st of October 1971, Parc floral de Paris, Bois de Vincennes

1973 Edition

From the 15th of September to the 21st of October 1973, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1975 Edition

From the 19th of September to the 2nd of November 1975, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Palais Galliera

1977 Edition

From the 17th of September to the 1st of November 1977, Palais de Tokyo, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1980 Edition

From the 20th of September to the 2nd of November 1980, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1982 Edition

From the 2nd of October to the 14th of November 1982, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris

1985 Edition

From the 21st of March to the 21st of May 1985, Grande halle de la Villette

2004 Edition

From the 20th of February to the 15th of March 2004, Paris et ailleurs

2006-2008 Edition

From the 1st of October 2006 to the 30th of September 2008, Paris, varied countries and regions

Exhibitions of the 2006-2008 Biennale de Paris

Creeds

Curators, art historians, art theoricians, art critics since 1959

Catherine Millet, Alfred Pacquement, Jean-Marc Poinsot, Daniel Abadie, Lucy R. Lippard, Pontus Hulten, Gérald Gassiot-Talabot, Achille Bonito Oliva, Pierre Restany, Pierre Courcelles, Paul Ardenne, Stephen Wright, Francesco Masci, Brian Holmes, Elisabeth Lebovici.

From 1959 to 2008, the Biennale de Paris presented works of artists such as

Karen Andreassian, Horst Antes, John M. Armleder, La Bergerie, Joseph Beuys, Gary Bigot, Alighiero Boetti, Microcollection, Christian Boltanski, Thierry Boutonnier, Winston Branch, Florian Brochec, Bernard Brunon (That's Painting Productions), Kees Brusse, Bureau d'Etudes, Daniel Buren, Ian Burn, Michel Chevalier, Christo, René Daniëls, Olivier Darné, Sérgio de Camargo, Francois Deck, Bernard Delville, Chinnapan Jesudoss Anthony Doss, Marcel Duchamp, Sabine Falk, Jean-Baptiste Farkas, Dominic Gagnon, Gilbert and George, Rolf Glasmeier, Dan Graham, Johannes Heisig, Anish Kapoor, Yves Klein, Park Seo-Bo, Joseph Kosuth, Karine Lebrun, André Éric Létourneau, La Chèvre Phénomène, Saint-Thomas l'Imposteur, Gordon Matta-Clark, Ricardo Mbarkho, Mario Merz, Jan Middlebos, Nam June Paik, Rodolfo Nieto, OSTSA, Giulio Paolini, Pablo Picasso, Sadequain Michelangelo Pistoletto, Hubert Renard, Paul Robert, Saint Thomas L'Imposteur, Nana Petzet, That's Painting Productions, Richard Serra, Les Somnatistes, Robert Smithson, Soussan Ltd, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Niele Toroni, Liliane Viala, Visualinguistic, Wolf Vostell, Lawrence Weiner, Paratene Matchitt, Yasuo Mizui, Alberto Gironella, Gage Taylor (1975 he was featured in the Paris Biennalle at the Museum of Modern Art ("Mindscapes From The New Land"))

Associated institutions