the venice biennale architettura 2020, curated by hashim sarkis, will be held in venice (giardini and arsenale) from saturday 29 august (preview thursday 27th and friday 28th) through sunday 29 november, instead of from 23 may through 29 november, as previously announced.
the new dates for the biennale architettura have been established as a consequence of the recent precautionary measures in the matter of mobility taken by the governments of a growing number of countries around the world, which will have a domino effect on the movement of people and works in coming weeks. this period of time coincides with the delicate initial phase of setting up an international exhibition as complex as the biennale architettura, which involves architects and institutions from over 60 countries on all continents.
this situation poses a risk to the realization of the exhibition in its entirety in time for the announced opening date (23 may), thereby jeopardizing its quality. furthermore, a short-term postponement could be ineffective, considering the complexity of the organizational machine, the number and importance of the subjects involved and the probable absence of many of them.
unwilling to open an incomplete exhibition, la biennale, having heard the curator hashim sarkis and in consideration of the difficulties faced by the participating countries and invited architects, has decided to postpone the inauguration until 29 august, bringing the duration of this year’s edition of the biennale architettura back to three months, from the end of august to the end of november.
this way, considering that the following week, 2 september is the opening date of the 77th venice international film festival directed by alberto barbera (through 12 september), at the end of the summer, with the almost concurrent opening of these two historic exhibitions, la biennale will offer venice and the world a moment of great cultural interest and international appeal.