Since the official inauguration of the third International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3), youniverse, on October 2nd in Seville and October 3rd in Granada, a total of 86.899 people have come to visit the exhibit at the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Sevilla and the Palace of Charles V at the Alhambra in Granada. During the month of October over 50.000 people visited the biennial, whereas over 36.000 visits were registered in November.


According to the data compiled by the two venues, until last Sunday, December 1st, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) at the Carthusian Monastery of Santa Maria de las Cuevas received 41.592 visitors. Of this number, 16.378 were primary and secondary schoolchildren who attended in group tours organised by the CAAC´s Educational Service and the Biacs. The daily tallies of the ticket office reveal that the largest percentage of visitors were citizens of the city and province of Seville (45,59%), followed by EU citizens (20,39%) and the rest of Spain (16,27%), the rest of the world (9,84%) and other Andalusian provinces (7,89)


In addition to the exhibit at the CAAC, the Biacs3 features outdoor pieces (installations) scattered throughout the city of Seville. The departures terminal of Seville´s San Pablo Airport boasts the presence of Red Eyed Sky Walkers by Jenny Marketou; the ancient fortress Real Alcázar contains Columbus 2.0/ Hidden Codes, by Michael Bielicky and the Torre de los Perdigones features the work Colour by Numbers. Between November 17 and 26, the installation Plaza de las Libertades (Freedom Square) by the Seville based architects MGM (Morales de Giles) was presented at Seville´s Railway Station; Santa Justa.


For its part, Granada has welcomed 45.307 Biacs3 visitors at the Palace of Charles V between October 3rd and November 30th. According to the statistics provided by the Analysis Department of the Board of Trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife, the highest percentage corresponds to visitors from Spain (49,62%), followed by European Union citizens (34,73%) and visitors from other countries (15,56%). Of the total number of visitors recorded, 7,69% were from the city and province of Granada.

The Biacs3, which boasts a total of 184 works by 170 international artists, will remain open until 11 January 2009. Visitors are invited to enjoy the greatest showcase of contemporary art this autumn and discover an overview of the masterpieces of media art, the latest trends in net art and multiplayer media and the evolution of experimental architecture over the past several decades to its most recent applications.

Feedback from some of the visitors who have experienced youniverse...



Guy Menover (Perpignan, age 52. Tourist)

"This exhibition is better than ArtFutura in Barcelona. I got very impressed by the structure of this Biennial, especially by the retro perspective and the amount of international artist that have been selected for this edition"

Angélica Fernández (Seville, age 17. Student)

"I am not familiar with the world of contemporary art, but thanks to the explanatory itinerary I came away with a fairly broad knowledge of the trends in modern-day art. The biggest impact has been the possibility to participate and interact with the works exposed"

Javier Quintanal (Seville, age 45. Teacher of Fine Arts)

"As a teacher of fine arts, I think that the Biacs3 provides a unique possibility for the youth to discover the world of contemporary art"

Laura Romero (Seville, age 18. Student)

"I will come back with my parents so that they can see the advantages of new technologies and their impact in art. I did not expect this splendid technological display"

Ewald Reuter (Finland, age 56. German professor).

"I think it´s wonderful that Peter Weibel was brought in for this project. The Biacs3 is an excellent example of globalised work; it has transcended borders and is exhibiting works by internationally renowned artists. I came all the way from Finland just to see how this year´s biennial had turned out."

Parallel Cultural Activities

Transversal Biacs - Interventions in public spaces
From 18 November to 11 January, the project Transversal Biacs, organised jointly by the Biacs Foundation, the Centre for Cultural Initiatives of the University of Seville (CICUS), the Institute of Culture and the Arts of Seville (ICAS), Emasesa Cultural and the Official College of Architects of Seville, proposes the creation of an artistic route running from the Biacs3 headquarters in Seville, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo), to the city centre. A total of 44 projects were admitted to the contest, and the five chosen winners received a cash prize of 8,000 euros each.

María González García. Red-Pública (Public-Network) / Rocío García Robles. Alter-Ego / Daniel Franca Camacho. The Box / Mari Carmen Sales Gómez. Fotosintetic (Photosynthetic) / Fernando Claro Guerrero. Daily Art.


Exhibitions


Horizontes (Horizons). Ars Fundum Collection
Through Saturday 20 December, the Arts Centre of Seville (CAS) is hosting the exhibition Horizontes, the first itinerant exhibit of the Ars Fundum Collection. This organisation is edicated to using savings plans to promote and publicise the work of young, up-and-coming contemporary artists.

The show has stopped over in Seville at the invitation of the Biacs3 to display 52 works of art - paintings, sculptures, photographs and video art pieces - from the Ars Fundum Collection, which boasts creations by today´s best contemporary artists. Among them are well-known names like Ángeles Agrela, Chema Alvargonzález, Gonzalo Sicre, Miguel Villarino, Santiago Ydánez and Simón Zabell.

General Information

Biacs3 - youniverse - From 2 October 2008 to 11 January 2009

Curator
Peter Weibel, director of the ZKM - Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Germany)
Co-curators
Wonil Rhee, curator of P.S.1 - MoMA 2009 (New York, USA)
Marie-Ange Brayer, director of the Regional Centre of Contemporary Art of Orléans (France)

Venues

SEVILLE - CENTRO ANDALUZ DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO (CAAC)
Entrances located on Avda. Américo Vespucio, 2 and Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n (opposite the Pasarela de la Cartuja Bridge), 41092, Seville
Transport: Bus lines C-1 and C-2


Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday: 11 am to 8 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm
Closed on Mondays and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January
Other holidays:December 6 and 8, and January 5 open from 10 am to 3 pm
Admission: general rate 7 euros/ discounted rate 4 euros.
www.caac.es


SEVILLE - OFF-SITE INSTALLATIONS
San Pablo Airport. Off the A-4 motorway. Km. 533. 41020 Seville.
Real Alcázar. Patio de Banderas, s/n. 41004 Seville.
Torre de los Perdigones. C/ Resolana, s/n. Parque de los Perdigones. 41009 Seville.


GRANADA - PALACE OF CHARLES V. ALHAMBRA
Monumental complex of the Alhambra and Generalife. 18009 Granada.
Public transport: Bus and Alhambra minibus. Connections to Plaza Nueva - Alhambra and the Albaicín, Sacromonte, Realejo and Barranco del Abogado districts.

Opening hours:

From 1 November to 11 January:
Monday - Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Free admission
www.alhambra-patronato.es


For tour reservations: info@fundacionbiacs.com / Tel: +34 954 467 513 and CAAC: educ.caac@juntadeandalucia.es / Tel: +34 955 037 096/ 070/ 140 (three lines)

Sponsors

BENEFACTORS

MINISTRY OF CULTURE/ REGIONAL GOVT. OF ANDALUSIA - DEPT. OF CULTURE and DEPT. OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND BUSINESS/ MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF SEVILLE - INSTITUTE OF CULTURE AND THE ARTS (ICAS) and CITY PLANNING AUTHORITY/ RENFE RAIL OPERATOR/ AENA/ CAJASOL OBRA SOCIAL/ INTERBRAND/ IBERIA - Official Airline/ ABC NEWSPAPER/ RADIO & TELEVISION OF ANDALUSIA (RTVA)


PATRONS

REGIONAL DEPT. OF TOURISM AND TURISMO ANDALUZ/ SEVILLE TOURISM BOARD/ PROVINCIAL TOURISM BOARD OF SEVILLE/ PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF SEVILLE/ GRUPO TECNOLOGICA/ GENERAL DE PRODUCCIONES Y DISEÑO - GPD/ REAL MAESTRANZA DE CABALLERÍA OF SEVILLE/ CARRILES-LÓPEZ FOUNDATION/ SEVILLA NO-DO FOUNDATION/ BANCO PRIVADO PORTUGUÉS/ BOMBAY SAPPHIRE/ ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL/ CARTUJA´93 S.A:/ VOLVO/ DIARIO DE SEVILLA NEWSPAPER - GRUPO JOLY/ MASDEARTE.COM/ UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE/ PABLO DE OLAVIDE UNIVERSITY/ INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ANDALUSIA.

COLLABORATORS

CENTRO ANDALUZ DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO / FRAC CENTRE / SEVILLE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL - ANDALUSIA FILM COMMISSION/ GARRIGUES LAW FIRM/ CÚBICA MULTIMEDIA/ MCA CONSULTORES/ DELOITTE/ ESPAÑA CITY SIGHTSEEING/ VODAFONE/ BULGARY/ ALFONSO XIII HOTEL/ RECILEC/ ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF CULTURE/ CARTUJA INSTITUTE/ AGESA/ ADIF/ SEVILLA TV/ PUNTO RADIO

For further information: prensa@fundaciobiacs.com / www.fundacionbiacs.com

3rd International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3)
2 October 2008 - 11 January 2009


Over 50,000 People Have Visited the Exhibition at the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo and the Palace of Charles V at the Alhambra in Granada


The third edition of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3), youniverse, celebrates its first month with a notable success in terms of visitor turnout. Since the exhibit was officially inaugurated at the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville and the Palace of Charles V (Alhambra) in Granada on 2 and 3 October, respectively, a total of 55,537 people have come to visit the biennial. The greatest number of visitors was registered during opening weekend, when free admission was offered to everyone and more than 6,000 people flocked to view the exhibitions in Seville and Granada.

According to the data compiled by the two venues, between 2 October and last Sunday, 2 November, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) at the Carthusian Monastery of Santa Maria de las Cuevas received 27,370 visitors. Of this number, 9,296 were primary and secondary schoolchildren who attended in group tours organised by the CAAC’s Educational Service and the Biacs. The daily tallies of the ticket office reveal that the largest percentage of visitors were citizens of the city and province of Seville (53.32%), followed by visitors from other Andalusian provinces and the rest of Spain (24.12%), EU citizens (16%) and the rest of the world (6.56%).

In addition to the exhibit at the CAAC, the Biacs3 features outdoor pieces (installations) scattered throughout the city of Seville. The departures terminal of Seville’s San Pablo Airport boasts the presence of Red Eyed Sky Walkers by Jenny Marketou; the ancient fortress Real Alcázar contains Columbus 2.0/ Hidden Codes, by Michael Bielicky; the Torre de los Perdigones features the work Colour by Numbers; and, starting on 11 November, the Santa Justa Train Station will be hosting an installation entitled Plaza de las Libertades (Freedom Square) by the Seville architecture firm MGM (Morales de Giles).

For its part, Granada welcomed 28,167 Biacs3 visitors at the Palace of Charles V from 3 October to 2 November, according to the statistics provided by the Analysis Department of the Board of Trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife. The highest percentage corresponded to visitors from Spain (46.35%), followed by European Union citizens (37.95%) and visitors from other countries (15.70%). Of the total number of visitors recorded, 7.26% were from the city and province of Granada.

The overall figures of turnout for the first month of the Biacs3 represent a 63% increase in comparison with the number registered in the same period for the previous biennial (Biacs2), when 20,000 visitors toured the exhibitions at the CAAC and the Reales Atarazanas of Seville.

The Biacs3, which boasts a total of 184 works by 170 international artists, will remain open until 11 January 2009. Visitors are invited to enjoy the greatest showcase of contemporary art this autumn and discover an overview of the masterpieces of media art, the latest trends in net art and multiplayer media and the evolution of experimental architecture over the past several decades to its most recent applications.


Feedback from some of the visitors who have experienced youniverse…

Joaquín Frías Ruiz (Seville, age 45. Secondary school teacher at Colegio San Juan Bosco).
“The Biacs3 manages to communicate the significance of contemporary art and creates an explanatory itinerary for visitors of all ages. It is an exemplary biennial.”

Álvaro Franco and Elena Gómez (Cordoba, ages 24 and 18. Architecture students).

“Some friends recommended that we visit the Biacs3. We aren’t familiar with the world of contemporary art, but we came away with a fairly broad knowledge of the trends in modern-day art.”

Alfonso Alcalá (Cordoba, age 26. Artist).

“Interactivity, applied in this edition as a core tenet of the Biacs3, is one of the greatest achievements. The ability of the audience to interact with the pieces is attracting a lot of people.”

Federico Manuel Otero (Seville, age 38. Teacher)
“This is one of the few exhibitions to which little children have responded with great enthusiasm.”

Ewald Reuter (Finland, age 56. German professor).

“I think it’s wonderful that Peter Weibel was brought in for this project. The Biacs3 is an excellent example of globalised work; it has transcended borders and is exhibiting works by internationally renowned artists. I came all the way from Finland just to see how this year’s biennial had turned out.”



Parallel Cultural Activities

Transversal Biacs – Interventions in public spaces
From 18 November to 11 January, the project Transversal Biacs, organised jointly by the Biacs Foundation, the Centre for Cultural Initiatives of the University of Seville (CICUS), the Institute of Culture and the Arts of Seville (ICAS), Emasesa Cultural and the Official College of Architects of Seville, proposes the creation of an artistic route running from the Biacs3 headquarters in Seville, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo), to the city centre. A total of 44 projects were admitted to the contest, and the five chosen winners received a cash prize of 8,000 euros each.

María González García. Red-Pública (Public-Network) / Rocío García Robles. Alter-Ego / Daniel Franca Camacho. The Box / Mari Carmen Sales Gómez. Fotosintetic (Photosynthetic) / Fernando Claro Guerrero. Daily Art.


The spaces where the winning projects will be installed are the façade of the University’s Fine Arts Department on Calle Laraña, the inner courtyard of the Official College of Architects in Plaza de San Pedro, the inner courtyard of Emasesa headquarters in Escuelas Pías and the courtyard of the Fine Arts Department on Gonzalo Bilbao.









Exhibitions

Bombay Sapphire Design Exhibition by Mariscal
A total of 33,424 people viewed the exhibition of the artist and designer Javier Mariscal, who made a stop in Seville as a special participant in the Biacs3. 210 of these visitors attended the design conference organised alongside the exhibition, which was on display from 2 to 11 October at the Dean’s Office of the University of Seville (entrance hall of the Philology Department). The Valencian artist’s exhibit paid tribute to a selection of 50 objects that are now a part of our everyday lives but whose initial appearance revolutionised the world of fashion, interior decoration, work organisation, means of transportation, gastronomy, household chores and particularly social interaction and music as a new form of entertainment.

The first Vespa (1946), a Fender Stratocaster guitar (1954), the first portable television set and appliances that have changed eating habits – the Turmix blender or the Bialetti Moka Express coffeemaker, among others – were some of the objects featured in this itinerant exhibition.



Horizontes (Horizons). Ars Fundum Collection
Through Saturday 8 November, the Arts Centre of Seville (CAS) is hosting the exhibition Horizontes, the first itinerant exhibit of the Ars Fundum Collection. This organisation is dedicated to using savings plans to promote and publicise the work of young, up-and-coming contemporary artists.

The show has stopped over in Seville at the invitation of the Biacs3 to display 52 works of art – paintings, sculptures, photographs and video art pieces – from the Ars Fundum Collection, which boasts creations by today’s best contemporary artists. Among them are well-known names like Ángeles Agrela, Chema Alvargonzález, Gonzalo Sicre, Miguel Villarino, Santiago Ydánez and Simón Zabell.



El juego de los tiempos (The Game of Time). Banco Privado Portugués – Ellipse Foundation
From 18 December to 22 January, the Ellipse Foundation will present three pieces from its collection at the 1929 Expo Casino of Seville in an exhibit entitled El juego de los tiempos, in response to an invitation issued by the Biacs Foundation. The three pieces by Mona Hatoum, Gabriel Orozco and João Pedro Vale are works of great importance in their respective careers. When viewed together, they illustrate the richness and diversity of contemporary sculpture art as it is represented in the Ellipse Collection. The common denominator of the three artworks is the way in which the concept of time is brought to bear on artistic expression and how it invites observers to reflect on the relationship between time and action.


General Information

Biacs3 - youniverse – From 2 October 2008 to 11 January 2009

Curator
Peter Weibel, director of the ZKM - Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Germany)
Co-curators
Wonil Rhee, curator of P.S.1 – MoMA 2009 (New York, USA)
Marie-Ange Brayer, director of the Regional Centre of Contemporary Art of Orléans (France)

Venues

SEVILLE - CENTRO ANDALUZ DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO (CAAC)
Entrances located on Avda. Américo Vespucio, 2 and Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n (opposite the Pasarela de la Cartuja Bridge), 41092, Seville
Transport: Bus lines C-1 and C-2


Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday: 11 am to 8 pm
Sunday and certain holidays (13 October, 1 November and 6 December): 10 am to 3 pm
Closed on Mondays and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January
Other holidays: check with the museum.
Admission: general rate 7 euros/ discounted rate 4 euros.
www.caac.es


SEVILLE – OFF-SITE INSTALLATIONS
San Pablo Airport. Off the A-4 motorway. Km. 533. 41020 Seville.
Real Alcázar. Patio de Banderas, s/n. 41004 Seville.
Torre de los Perdigones. C/ Resolana, s/n. Parque de los Perdigones. 41009 Seville.
Santa Justa Train Station. Avda. Kansas City, s/n. 41007 Seville.


GRANADA – PALACE OF CHARLES V. ALHAMBRA
Monumental complex of the Alhambra and Generalife. 18009 Granada.
Public transport: Bus and Alhambra minibus. Connections to Plaza Nueva – Alhambra and the Albaicín, Sacromonte, Realejo and Barranco del Abogado districts.
Opening hours:
From 3 to 31 October:
Monday – Sunday: 9 am to 8 pm
From 1 November to 11 January:
Monday – Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Free admission
www.alhambra-patronato.es


For tour reservations: info@fundacionbiacs.com / Tel: +34 954 467 513 and CAAC: educ.caac@juntadeandalucia.es / Tel: +34 955 037 096/ 070/ 140 (three lines)

Sponsors

BENEFACTORS

MINISTRY OF CULTURE/ REGIONAL GOVT. OF ANDALUSIA – DEPT. OF CULTURE and DEPT. OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND BUSINESS/ MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF SEVILLE – INSTITUTE OF CULTURE AND THE ARTS (ICAS) and CITY PLANNING AUTHORITY/ RENFE RAIL OPERATOR/ AENA/ CAJASOL OBRA SOCIAL/ INTERBRAND/ IBERIA – Official Airline/ ABC NEWSPAPER/ RADIO & TELEVISION OF ANDALUSIA (RTVA)


PATRONS

REGIONAL DEPT. OF TOURISM AND TURISMO ANDALUZ/ SEVILLE TOURISM BOARD/ PROVINCIAL TOURISM BOARD OF SEVILLE/ PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF SEVILLE/ GRUPO TECNOLOGICA/ GENERAL DE PRODUCCIONES Y DISEÑO – GPD/ REAL MAESTRANZA DE CABALLERÍA OF SEVILLE/ CARRILES-LÓPEZ FOUNDATION/ SEVILLA NO-DO FOUNDATION/ BANCO PRIVADO PORTUGUÉS/ BOMBAY SAPPHIRE/ ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL/ CARTUJA’93 S.A:/ VOLVO/ DIARIO DE SEVILLA NEWSPAPER – GRUPO JOLY/ MASDEARTE.COM/ UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE/ PABLO DE OLAVIDE UNIVERSITY/ INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ANDALUSIA.

COLLABORATORS

CENTRO ANDALUZ DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO / FRAC CENTRE / SEVILLE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL – ANDALUSIA FILM COMMISSION/ GARRIGUES LAW FIRM/ CÚBICA MULTIMEDIA/ MCA CONSULTORES/ DELOITTE/ ESPAÑA CITY SIGHTSEEING/ VODAFONE/ BULGARY/ ALFONSO XIII HOTEL/ RECILEC/ ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF CULTURE/ CARTUJA INSTITUTE/ AGESA/ ADIF/ SEVILLA TV/ PUNTO RADIO


For further information: prensa@fundacionbiacs.com / www.fundacionbiacs.com

La Fundación BIACS, conjuntamente con el equipo de comisarios de la tercera edición de la Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla (Biacs3), encabezado por Peter Weibel, lamentan comunicar oficialmente la suspensión del Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos de Córdoba como sede de la tercera edición de la Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla (Biacs3), cuya inauguración tendrá lugar los próximos 2 y 3 de octubre en Sevilla (Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo) y Granada (Palacio de Carlos V), respectivamente.

La Fundación BIACS desea, en primer lugar, subrayar y agradecer públicamente el apoyo ofrecido por el Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Córdoba, tanto económico como técnico y logístico, en beneficio de la ampliación de la Biacs3 a la ciudad andaluza. Los motivos que han causado la suspensión vienen derivados de la comunicación de la cancelación del patrocinio privado previsto para posibilitar la ejecución del proyecto expositivo en la sede del Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos.

Las obras de los artistas que habían sido seleccionados en origen para esta sede serán finalmente reubicadas en las otras dos sedes expositivas de la Biacs3, el Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo en Sevilla y el Palacio de Carlos V, en la Alhambra de Granada.

La Fundación BIACS, en su objetivo de afianzar la Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla como uno de los eventos culturales de mayor rango y proyección de Andalucía, espera y desea poder contar con Córdoba como sede en futuras ediciones de la Bienal.

More than 150 artists from all over the world will participate in the third edition of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3), which will be held from 2 October 2008 to 9 January 2009.

In the global context of the information and communication society, the Biacs3 will make a new map of Global Art, World Art, addressing the specific aspect of media, environment and technology. Under the title youniverse, the Biennial of Seville will show how contemporary art worldwide has changed through the influence of media, technology, science and architecture by fostering one main goal: the participation of the public and a new equation between man and his environment.

The creations of the selected artists (approximately 180 works) will revolve around mobility, individualisation through technologies, nanotechnology, hydraulic engineering, architecture and the environment. One aspect will be to show that technology as man-made nature can help to solve our problems with natural environments. The other aspect will be the democratization of art. The audience, rather than the artists, is the star. The Biascs3 will present the public with a showcase of the 21st century’s most representative technical breakthroughs on the threshold of a material revolution that will lead us from simulation to stimulation, and will invite visitors to personally interact with the contents of the exhibition.

The artistic curatorial team appointed to plan the contents of the Biacs3 – consisting of Peter Weibel, general director of the ZKM Centre for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, Wonil Rhee, guest curator of PS1MoMA 2009, Korean curator, and Marie-Ange Brayer, director of the Regional Centre of Contemporary Art of Orleáns, France – aims to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the general theme of the exhibition.

The third edition of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville, to be held from 2 October 2008 to 11 January 2009, will occupy the main exhibition site at the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) and branch out into public spaces in Seville and Granada

The artistic team appointed to plan the contents of the third edition of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3) – consisting of Peter Weibel, general director of the ZKM Centre for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, Wonil Rhee, Korean exhibition curator, and Marie-Ange Brayer, director of the Regional Centre of Contemporary Art of Orleáns, France – has presented an outline of the various proposals that the upcoming biennial will offer. They aim to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the general theme of the event, and specifically to address the ties between art, science, technology and architecture in the global context of the information and communication society.

The Biacs3, which will be held from 2 October 2008 to 11 January 2009, will adopt the title Youniverse, a play on words that refers to the interactivity of each individual with a universe – namely, his or her own personal universe. Peter Weibel announced that the creations of the selected artists, whose names he prefers not to reveal at this time, will revolve around mobility, individualisation through technologies, nanotechnology, hydraulic engineering, architecture and the environment. The artistic director plans to present the public with a showcase of the 21st century’s most representative technical breakthroughs and will invite visitors to personally interact with the contents of the exhibition. According to Weibel, in Youniverse the visitor will be the protagonist. The foremost objective is to attempt to foment “the democratisation of art and the emancipation of the masses by means of the individual’s interaction with his environment, which has been modified substantially by information and communication technologies.” The public will discover “a new universe” of which they are a part – hence the title.

As in past editions, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) will be the official headquarters of the exhibition, although works will also be on display in other public spaces around the city of Seville. As a new development this year, the Biacs3 will branch out into other Andalusian provinces such Granada with a view to exploring the origins of science and technology in the days when this region was the Arabic Al-Andalus, a hotbed of scientific innovation and one of the first cultures to promote the emancipation of the masses through technology.

The Biacs3 will attempt to show how the latest technologies have provided us with a gateway to an unknown world where we find that human beings are the nexus for all connections between science, art, technology and media, and that we have the power to control these ties. “The tendency at present is to democratise the use of technology; from personal computers and mobile phones to faucets and light switches, new technologies allow the user to adapt the environment to his needs, anytime, anywhere,” in Weibel’s words.

With this goal in mind, the artistic director announced that, among other proposals, the Biacs3 will feature panoramic views of the city of Seville taken from the programme Google Earth and that an “island” will be created in the virtual world of Second Life where participants will be able to create three-dimensional figures or avatars and dialogue with the philosophers of antiquity. Al-Andalus, as he proposes to name the island, will act as a “language-generating” machine.

In this context, the co-curators of the Biacs3, Wonil Rhee and Marie-Ange Brayer, will design specific proposals for the exhibition. Rhee will focus on how art is related to sciences and technologies in modern life, while Brayer will analyse present-day ties between architecture and digital tools.

Peter Weibel, general director of the ZKM Karlsruhe Centre for Art and Media (Germany), will be the artistic director of the biennial’s next edition in 2008 at the head of a multidisciplinary team

In this modern age of information and communication technologies, where our worldview is increasingly more dominated by media influence, a contemporary look at the ties between art, science, technology and architecture will be the focus of the third edition of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (Biacs3) in autumn 2008. The Biacs Foundation has chosen Peter Weibel (Odessa, Ukraine, 1944), general director of the ZKM- Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie (Centre for Art and Media) of Karlsruhe (Germany) to supervise work on this project, which is already underway, and lead the team that will define the artistic content of the upcoming edition. The project will include several different sections, emphasising an interdisciplinary approach to the theme that is ultimately selected.

The premise of the project harkens back to the age of European imperialism, when Spain played a crucial role with its knowledge of navigation, astronomy and engineering that helped it to become a dominant world power and maintain its influence for several centuries. Since that time and up to the present day, the tendency has been to democratise the use of technology; “from personal computers and mobile phones to faucets and light switches, new technologies allow the user to adapt the environment to his needs, anytime, anywhere… Can we conclude that technology is artificial nature created by man? Is it coherent to ask if technology helps man to master nature and technology humanises nature…?” Using these and other questions as a conceptual starting point, the Biacs3 will attempt to address how and to what degree contemporary art is affected by this approach. “In the global sphere of Internet, there are countless places for storage where each user can put his own creativity to the test. In the age of Youtube.com, Flickr.com, MySpace.com and Second Life, the artist no longer has a monopoly on creativity. With today’s resources, everyone can become a creator,” Peter Weibel points out.