Frenchman Wins The Battle of Venice!
Apr 9th, 2007 | 07:49 AM
#2
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Pinault is France's wealthiest art collector and has a business empire that includes Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Christie's. The Battle of Venice's loser was the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation.
So no more saracastic cries of "France retreats"
So no more saracastic cries of "France retreats"
Apr 9th, 2007 | 08:19 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2006
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Actually, you're wrong. I've been following this closely, and reported the first part of it on another thread-but not the last part.
You see, the Governor of the Veneto, Gian Carlo Galan, was backing the Guggenheim's Thomas Kren. To say that Galan hates Massimo Cacciari, the Mayor of Venice, is quite the understatement. Galan beat Cacciari in the 2000 election for governorship of the region.
The Mayor of Venice, Cacciari, was actively supporting Pinault, and wanted him to have the Punta della Dogana space. (Btw, the Mayor, Massimo Cacciari, has been chosen by the Pope to present the Pope's new book at the end of this week-"Jesus of Nazareth," at the book's presentation in Rome on April 13th). Many, many professors were passed over for this honor, some have jealously said that Cacciari is the "antichrist" and should not have been chosen by the Pope-(smile). You see, Cacciari has stated publicly on a number of occasions, that he is an atheist but now, he calls himself a "rationalist." (Love this stuff-love it!)
Galan announced this past Saturday that the Venice City Council erred when it said that the Guggenheim did not comply with an essential requirement in the competition-i.e., to provide the specific works of art that were to be put into the museum's permanent collection. As a result, Galan is going to bat for the Guggenheim, and is going to various government agencies to overturn the City Council's decision. As Galan is the Governor of the Region, he's quite powerful.
This story ain't over yet, not by a long shot.
You see, the Governor of the Veneto, Gian Carlo Galan, was backing the Guggenheim's Thomas Kren. To say that Galan hates Massimo Cacciari, the Mayor of Venice, is quite the understatement. Galan beat Cacciari in the 2000 election for governorship of the region.
The Mayor of Venice, Cacciari, was actively supporting Pinault, and wanted him to have the Punta della Dogana space. (Btw, the Mayor, Massimo Cacciari, has been chosen by the Pope to present the Pope's new book at the end of this week-"Jesus of Nazareth," at the book's presentation in Rome on April 13th). Many, many professors were passed over for this honor, some have jealously said that Cacciari is the "antichrist" and should not have been chosen by the Pope-(smile). You see, Cacciari has stated publicly on a number of occasions, that he is an atheist but now, he calls himself a "rationalist." (Love this stuff-love it!)
Galan announced this past Saturday that the Venice City Council erred when it said that the Guggenheim did not comply with an essential requirement in the competition-i.e., to provide the specific works of art that were to be put into the museum's permanent collection. As a result, Galan is going to bat for the Guggenheim, and is going to various government agencies to overturn the City Council's decision. As Galan is the Governor of the Region, he's quite powerful.
This story ain't over yet, not by a long shot.
Apr 9th, 2007 | 09:14 AM
#5
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I'm not wrong but perhaps Alan Riding is in the NYTimes article on this in the april 7, 2007 edition.
For the edification of others about this interesting development, the article:
says Pinault was granted a 30-year concession on the Old Customs House, which gloriously sits at the entrance to the Grande Canale opposite St Marks area and has been vacant for years.
The decision was made by Luigi Bassetto, head of Venice's heritage organization following a recommendation of experts.
And like girlsyptravel says the reason the guggenheim folks were excluded is because of their refusal to specify which works they would permanently display in the new museum, which is actually in addition to the Palazzo Grassi Pinault currently owns and uses as museum space. Bassetto saying that was the reason the committee disqualified Guggenheimers.
guggenheimers complained that during the process the object of the new Punta della Dogana "changed from that of a dynamic center of contemporary art to a static museum of modern art-- we trusted that the city would share our vision of a dynamic museum but we were mistaken"
Pinault was trying to convince authorities in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt for permission to construct a $195 million contemporary art museum on an island in the Seine was stymied so turned his eyes to Venice where in 2005 he had bought the Palazzo Grassi.
Pinault's about 2,000 works of contemporary art in his personal collection will be given largely it says to the new museum.
Riding discussed the political intrigue just like Girlspytravel does. But adds that at one time there was hope of a joint operation between the two to run the museum... an ideal marriage it would seem - deep pockedted Pinault and someone who have proven they know how to run an art museum, etc.
But this plan 'imploded after a Guggenheim backer attacked Pinnault as a "wandering merchant" in a Le Monde interview
Girlspytravel thanks for setting this straight - as Yogi says "It ain't over till it's over," and unlike Le Figaro blared in declaring "Mission Accomplished" in the Battle of Venice, it apparently ain't over. Thanks.
I pretend to know nothing about this issue but what you and the article says but just found it intriguing - especially in the amazing edifice it will occupy that i've dreamily gazed on before wondering why it was so derelict looking.
For the edification of others about this interesting development, the article:
says Pinault was granted a 30-year concession on the Old Customs House, which gloriously sits at the entrance to the Grande Canale opposite St Marks area and has been vacant for years.
The decision was made by Luigi Bassetto, head of Venice's heritage organization following a recommendation of experts.
And like girlsyptravel says the reason the guggenheim folks were excluded is because of their refusal to specify which works they would permanently display in the new museum, which is actually in addition to the Palazzo Grassi Pinault currently owns and uses as museum space. Bassetto saying that was the reason the committee disqualified Guggenheimers.
guggenheimers complained that during the process the object of the new Punta della Dogana "changed from that of a dynamic center of contemporary art to a static museum of modern art-- we trusted that the city would share our vision of a dynamic museum but we were mistaken"
Pinault was trying to convince authorities in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt for permission to construct a $195 million contemporary art museum on an island in the Seine was stymied so turned his eyes to Venice where in 2005 he had bought the Palazzo Grassi.
Pinault's about 2,000 works of contemporary art in his personal collection will be given largely it says to the new museum.
Riding discussed the political intrigue just like Girlspytravel does. But adds that at one time there was hope of a joint operation between the two to run the museum... an ideal marriage it would seem - deep pockedted Pinault and someone who have proven they know how to run an art museum, etc.
But this plan 'imploded after a Guggenheim backer attacked Pinnault as a "wandering merchant" in a Le Monde interview
Girlspytravel thanks for setting this straight - as Yogi says "It ain't over till it's over," and unlike Le Figaro blared in declaring "Mission Accomplished" in the Battle of Venice, it apparently ain't over. Thanks.
I pretend to know nothing about this issue but what you and the article says but just found it intriguing - especially in the amazing edifice it will occupy that i've dreamily gazed on before wondering why it was so derelict looking.
