François Pinault opened Punta della Dogana, his second art space in Venice during the first week of the Biennale and the only word that comes to my mind is Wouhaou ! It's a beautifully renovated space by Japanese architect Tadao Ando (one of my favourites) that hosts artworks from Pinault's private collection that includes Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, Maurizio Cattellan.
The first exhibition, under the joint direction of Alison Gingeras and Francesco Bonami, is shown simultaneously at the Punta della Dogana and the Palazzo Grassi, in keeping with the François Pinault Foundation’s commitment to the City of Venice and to contemporary culture.
Conceived as a single exhibition that unfolds over the two venues, this presentation is shaped in response to the particular atmosphere of each space: the inward-looking private sphere on one side, and the outward looking, world-at-large on the other. The two halves of the exhibition will constitute a dialogue between artists of different generations, covering a vast range of practices and aesthetic sensibilities.
It's one of the most beautiful museum space I've ever seen and the exhibition is well done. The opening was A-list attended. Among many others I spotted Marc Jacobs and his husband, Stella Mc Cartney, Naomi Campbell, Tadao Ando, Jacques Chirac and wife, Jack Lang, BHL and Arielle Dombasle, Maurizio Cattelan, Jeff Koons etc.
Do go and visit it, it's a must see in Venice and for sure the best "pavilion" of the biennale if I dare...
To learn more: http://www.palazzograssi.it/
