Glasgow-based artist Graham Fagen has been selected to represent Scotland at the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, the Scotland + Venice partnership has announced today. Fagen’s solo presentation will be curated by Hospitalfield Arts, a residency, commissioning and artists’ studio project near Arbroath.
“It is a fantastic honour,” said Fagen. “The Biennale is one of the most important events in the international calendar for the visual arts and I hope that I can do justice to its history and Scotland’s participation in it.”
Fagen works in a variety of mediums including video, installation, sculpture, photography and text, creating works that explore how identity is both created by, and a response to, its cultural context. He is represented by Matts Gallery, London and Galerie Micky Schubert, Berlin.
Hospitalfield Arts’ director Lucy Byatt said: “We could not be more delighted. It is an outstanding opportunity for Hospitalfield Arts to work closely with an artist such as Graham Fagen and to bring to Venice a project that emerges from our work in Arbroath in the beautiful region of Angus.”
The selection panel included: Amanda Catto, portfolio manager for visual arts at Creative Scotland and chair of the Scotland + Venice partnership; Francis McKee, director of Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) and co-curator of Zenomap for Scotland + Venice in 2003; Richard Riley, head of exhibitions, visual arts department, British Council; Dana MacLeod, Head of Arts, British Council Scotland; David Watt, director of Arts and Business Scotland and board member of SCAN (Scottish Contemporary Art Network).
More on a-n.co.uk:
Scotland in Venice: a visit from the Culture Secretary
Graham Fagen interviewed on his Imperial War Museum residency, 2003
