Liverpool Biennial 2012 announce theme and artists

Liverpool Biennial have announced an exciting assembly of some 60 international artists under the theme of hospitality. The UK’s Biennial will take over the city’s venues from September to November this year, turning Liverpool into a ‘global host.’

Highlights include architectural interventions by US artist Doug Aitkin on the Albert Dock; and Israeli artist Oded Hirsch’s Mad Lift erupting from underneath Liverpool One. Spanish artist Dora Garcia and Liverpool residents will host their own TV show, whilst a multi-artist sensory project at the Monroe Pub will bring ghosts to life. A recreation by Ming Wong of the Roman Polanski film Chinatown, where Wong plays every character, will be screened in the Ropewalks area.

Entitled The Unexpected Guest, the citywide exhibition will explore the welcome we extend to strangers. “Hospitality in the Olympic year is especially important”, explained director Sally Tallant,  “and Liverpool Biennial 2012 considers the question of ‘hospitality’ as a starting point. To whom are we hospitable? And for how long?”

Official partner venues include the usual city-centre-based suspects, Tate Liverpool, the Bluecoat, and FACT, but also new faces including the iconic Cunard Building, north-Liverpool based artspace The Royal Standard, and Mitchell’s Bakery, a community-run project opposite LFC in Anfield. LJMU and Bloomberg New Contemporaries will take over two huge floors of the Copperas Hill Building, formerly the Royal Mail sorting house.

Tallant, who took up her post early this year, added: “It feels that we have all arrived at the right moment and that we are working together in a moment of change … we are trying to find ways to reach every single person in this city.”

Liverpool Biennial, continued Tallant, is looking to “develop a close conversation with local artists without taking away their independence.” As part of this aim, a public programme of events and conversations has been commissioned throughout September between artists, curators, writers and critics.

The programme includes an occupation of Everton Park by the people behind The High Line, New York; an epic orchestral guitar event by composer Rhys Chatham; and a Young People’s Biennial, starting with FACT’s Young Liverpool Film Night.

We are also proud to confirm that The Double Negative will officially host Objectivity and Balance: Writing in the Arts – expert talks, discussions and events around why critical writing is important in a mature and thriving arts landscape. More details on this as we have them.

Liverpool Biennial’s opens 14 September 2012