Off the Beaten Track at the Venice Biennale 2017

Get away from the culture vulture crowds at this year’s Venice Biennale and enjoy first-class exhibitions in the city centre’s less touristy venues. Here are a few of my favourite spots, which allow you to take in the art without jostling for viewing space. Avoiding the hordes begins at the airport, so book one of Shuttle Direct’s Venice airport transfers to begin your cultural break conveniently and comfortably.

Palazzo Grassi

See Damien Hirst’s unmissable extravaganza, which sprawls through the Palazzo Grassi and the Dogana, the city’s former customs building. The exhibition is an impressive feat, as both venues are huge. Prepare to see almost 200 intricately designed artefacts, which pay homage to every imaginable civilization. You’ll also want to marvel at a 60-foot and headless colossus, as well as a golden nugget that’s no bigger than the average fingernail.

Punta della Dogana

The Punta della Dogana is another piece by Hirst, which strikes an ominous balance between showcasing Trumpesque fake news, consumerism and macho tendencies. While some have labelled Hirst’s exhibition a massive act of self-indulgence, I think that it makes for a delightful viewing experience, entertaining both children and adults.

Gallerie dell’Accademia

Although Philip Guston is typically revered as oh-so-American, this major display of his paintings reveals his surprising and profound gravitation towards Italian painting styles. The exhibition explores his work through the lens of the ideas and language of the poets who inspired him. The setting of Guston’s Venetian debut is also noteworthy, as the Gallerie dell’Accademia is not only one of his preferred locations in the city, but also includes many works from private collections that are rarely released for public viewings.

Palazzo Fortuny

Since their formation in the early 1900s, the grand chambers of this palace have remained largely unchanged. Today, they are the home and workplace of the very talented aristocrat Mariano Fortuny, a designer of stage sets, outlandish lamps and pleated dresses, which have made him famous around the world.  

Belgian dealer Axel Vervoordt added to the intrigue of the place with an inspiring exhibition that spans cultures, civilisations and geographies. It also includes artefacts that address the themes of vision and ecstasy, ranging from pre-historic totems to early religious imagery. The modern works by Wassily Kandinsky, the surrealist pieces by surrealists Man and Miro Ray, and the special installations by Marina Abramovic and Anish Kapoor also should not be missed.

How to Get There

Using Shuttle Direct’s pre-booked Venice airport transfers will make your trip run much more smoothly. As a leading transport provider in Europe and North Africa, we have years of experience in providing transfers from Venice Treviso Airport (TSF) and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). Our rides are either private or comfortable shuttle services, both of which are very convenient and quick ways of getting to the centre of Venice.