Anton Ginzburg is one of the few artists with a solo exhibit in Venice that can be found on two floors of the Palazzo Bollani. His work, At the Back of the North Wind, invites the public to explore the mythical land, Hyperborea.
The land of Hyperborea is an Ancient Greek eden that was thought to be found in an unspecific point in the North, where the sun shines twenty-four hours a day. This mythical haven caught the attention of Ginzberg when he heard that the location of this eden had been pinpointed near the White Sea, northwest Russia. "I created it in a year, after having read in a sensationalist newspaper, such as the National Enquirer, that they had localized this legendary place in the White Sea: I found a fascinating paradox that the proof of the existence of a mythical place was offered, the metaphor for brightness and beatitude".
The exhibition charts his journey as he attempts to discover the location of Hyperborea from the American Northwest, through to St. Petersburg and then the White Sea itself. The travel journal is revealed through a series of photographs, installations, notes, and sculptures and also includes artifacts that Anton found during his exploration.
Hyperborea has been an inspiration for early modernist thinkers and continues to excite the imagination of global media as a place of pure bliss that produces red clouds underneath an eternal sun. The location of this land has been thought over through time, maps revealing its location are rife and visual representations are still the labour of some today. Anton Ginzburg collates these theories within his personal experience and invites the public to retread his steps.
For more art from the Venice Biennale, click below:
Written by Ben Taylor
Photography - www.antonginzburg.com

Post a comment
To leave a comment sign in to MySwide, or use your Facebook account: