The Venice Biennale 2017

THE EXHIBITION

Thank you so much for the flowers is a tribute to the expectations and mishaps of social etiquette. Mike Bourscheid’s perspective on the exhibition space – an actual apartment in the San Marco neighbourhood of Venice – is influenced by the presence of real tenants living and sleeping in the same architectural structure. Traces of the body emerge throughout the exhibition in the form of casts, reliefs, performances, videos and cookie-making. This year, the Luxembourg Pavilion can be likened to a collection of story books, each of the pavilion’s rooms comprising an intimate world drawing from art history, movie sets, haute couture, theatre costuming, disguises and armour. From 16th century forging techniques to hand-dyed silk pyjamas Mike Bourscheid embraces the craftsperson, and considers the lives of those who have carried and purveyed their traditional knowledge. Thank you so much for the flowers takes aim at social mores by humourously exploring society’s codes and behaviours. We hope to see you there. Thank you so much.

THE ARTIST

Mike Bourscheid, born in 1984 in Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), studied at the Université d’Aix-Marseille (France) and Universität der Künste Berlin (Germany). Today, he lives and works in Luxembourg and in Vancouver, Canada. Recent exhibitions include: Access Gallery Vancouver (Canada), Nanaimo Art Gallery (Canada), Centre d’art Œil de Poisson in Quebec City (Canada) and Centre d’art Nei Liicht in Dudelange (Luxembourg). In 2015 he was nominated for the Prix d’art Robert Schuman; in 2010 he won the IBB-Preis für Fotografie.

Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

Production photo 2017.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

The Goldbird Variations,

Sculpture, performance, audio, 2016.

Realized with the support of L’Œil de Poisson, Québec. Courtesy the artist.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid. Photo: Mike Bourscheid.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Mike Bourscheid.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

This is how I imagine love,

Sculpture, performance, vinyl album, 2015.

Courtesy the artist.

The Oracle, 2017.

Exhibition view Mike Bourscheid – Thank you so much for the flowers, 2017.

57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Copyright Mike Bourscheid.

Photo: Luke Andrew Walker.

The wellbeing of things: a 5 km race,

Video still, 2017.

Courtesy the artist.

The coordination of the Luxembourg Pavilion is under the auspices of Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain.

Casino Luxembourg holds contemporary art exhibitions with an international program of mainly younger-generation artists. The art center houses public spaces with a variety of uses and vocations, combining contemporary art with a warm and friendly meeting place. Temporary exhibitions – artists’ monographs and themed exhibitions are completed by a varied cultural program. Far from any museological concerns, the Casino functions like an artistic and experimental think tank heading for the latest trends in the art scene.

THE ORGANIZER

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Luxembourg Pavilion

Address

Luxembourg Pavilion

Ca’ del Duca

Corte del Duca Sforza

San Marco 3052, Venezia

Opening hours

From 13 May to 26 November 2017

From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Closed on Tuesdays.

Key dates

Opening:

Thursday 11 May 2017

from 6.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m.

Performance, Mike Bourscheid, Thank you so much for the flowers, from 6.30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Afternoon party:

Friday 12 May 2017 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.

DJ Ultramoodem on 11 and 12 May 2017.

Performance

Goldbird Variations (Pas de Deux), performance by Mike Bourscheid:

- Saturday 20 May 2017, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

- Monday 22 May 2017, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

- Saturday 27 May 2017, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

- Monday 29 May 2017, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Open Table / Tavola Aperta

With Mike Bourscheid.

Thursday 25 May 2017, lunchtime at Central Pavilion, Giardini.

Booking mandatory: www.labiennale.org

Giardini & Arsenale

Opening days

From 13 May until 26 November 2017

Giardini and Arsenale are closed on Mondays (except 15 May, 14 August, 4 September, 30 October, and 20 November 2017)

Opening hours

Giardini from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Arsenale from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

(from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from 13 May until 30 September 2017).