VIVA ART VIVA, the 2017 Venice Biennale is off to an inspiring start. At the fair, you’ll find copies of Whitewaller Venice—out now to help guide you through the busy art fair and the bustling Italian city. Below, we’re sharing tips on where to go for drinks, dinner, and art from Natalie King—the Biennale’s Australian Pavilion Curator; Chief Curator of Biennial Lab, City of Melbourne; Senior Research Fellow, Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne; and Creative Associate of MPavilion.
WHERE TO EAT AND SIP
My favorite place to eat is Trattoria Antiche Carampane, which is a small family restaurant in an alley between the Rialto fish market and Campo San Polo. There are no printed menus and the delectable dishes are sourced from local produce and authentic Venetian seafood recipes.
WHERE TO SEE ART
Of course you can’t miss the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, resplendent with her collection in her former home. I adore the earrings on display that Yves Tanguy and Alexander Calder gave her. She wore one on each ear to show her impartiality between Surrealism and abstract art.
WHERE TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX
I like the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to view Tintoretto’s epic cycle of more than 60 paintings. This place was a Renaissance men’s fraternity, maybe even a cult. I also like the rows of ornate timber lanterns, steeped in history and mystery. Here I can pause and ponder before facing the crowds.