Sounding like Julianna Engberg has been drinking the same magical elixir as that favoured by the Romantic poets and artists of yore, the Biennale of Sydney today announced a sneak preview of artists for next year’s 19th BOS. You Imagine What You Desire will feature a number of artists, some you might have heard of, who will join together in a themeless mega-group show that reaches for the very heights of artistic endeavour, namely, the sublime! As Engberg explained in the press release:
‘You Imagine What You Desire seeks splendour and rapture in works that remain true to a greater, even sublime visuality. Today these things co-exist and overlap, and the tactics of theatricality cannot be separated from overtly social-situationist inspired works, just as they are central to works engaging with humanity at a grand scale. Extra energies are sought in works that unleash physical and psychic intensity. A happy anarchy is produced with works that activate the power of imagination through laughter and activity.’
In an effort to marry the magical with the everyday, artists include Yael Bartana, Ulla von Brandenberg, Mircea Cantor, David Claerbout, Yingmei Duan, Krisztina Erdei, Douglas Gordon, Henna-Riikka Halonen, Roni Horn, Mikhail Karikis, Laurent Montaron, Agnieszka Polska, Augustin Rebetez, Maxime Rossi, Wael Shawky, John Stezaker, Corin Sworn and Tori Wranes.
