Iceland’s contribution to the Venice Biennale has attracted many visitors since its opening last Friday, reports newsagent Vísir. According to Björg Stefánsdóttir, PR manager at the Icelandic Art Centre, the space has been jam-packed every day.
The Swiss/Icelandic artist Christoph Büchel represents Iceland at the famous art fair this year. His project, called The Mosque: First Mosque in the Historic City of Venice, is located in a former Catholic church in the Cannaregio neighbourhood and will serve as a place of activity for the Venice Muslim Community and includes educational and cultural programmes for the public. The project is done in collaboration with Muslim associations in Venice and Iceland.
Read more: Iceland’s contribution to the Venice Biennale considered a security threat
The Telegraph reports that the installation has upset members of the Catholic Church in Venice as well as local authorities, who view it as a security threat.
The Santa Maria della Misericordia church is owned by a Venetian lighting company, however, the Telegraph writes that for any use other than Christian worship, authorisation must be sought from church authorities, regardless of who is the church’s current owner. Local authorities say that without the necessary permits, the installation will be closed down by next week.
Iceland’s contribution to the Venice Biennale has attracted many visitors since its opening last Friday, reports newsagent Vísir. According to Björg Stefánsdóttir, PR manager at the Icelandic Art Centre, the space has been jam-packed every day.
The Swiss/Icelandic artist Christoph Büchel represents Iceland at the famous art fair this year. His project, called The Mosque: First Mosque in the Historic City of Venice, is located in a former Catholic church in the Cannaregio neighbourhood and will serve as a place of activity for the Venice Muslim Community and includes educational and cultural programmes for the public. The project is done in collaboration with Muslim associations in Venice and Iceland.
Read more: Iceland’s contribution to the Venice Biennale considered a security threat
The Telegraph reports that the installation has upset members of the Catholic Church in Venice as well as local authorities, who view it as a security threat.
The Santa Maria della Misericordia church is owned by a Venetian lighting company, however, the Telegraph writes that for any use other than Christian worship, authorisation must be sought from church authorities, regardless of who is the church’s current owner. Local authorities say that without the necessary permits, the installation will be closed down by next week.
