Liverpool Biennial is like a giant art treasure hunt. From 15 September-25 November 2012, the whole city will be transformed into a mad artist’s playground, with mind-boggling installations lurking around every corner.
For ten weeks every two years, Liverpool becomes home to works by the world’s most exciting artists. Sometimes, the art finds you – be it a giant robotic spider or an otherwise innocuous building subtly shifting and spinning before your eyes.
Continuing the Olympics’ welcoming wave of goodwill, the theme for the 2012 biennial is hospitality.
Outside of London, the city has more galleries and museums, and commissions more new art than any other UK city. This is all on show during the biennial, along with unexpected venues like The Cunard Building and the Liverpool ONE shopping complex.
The Cunard Building will be opening its doors to the public for the first time to host The Unexpected Guest – a showcase of works by over 60 leading and emerging artists from across the world.
At Liverpool ONE, Israeli artist Oded Hirsch will present a full-sized elevator bursting through the floor. Elmgreen and Dragset will be considering Liverpool’s infamous WAG culture with an over-sized VIP door, left slightly ajar.
Elsewhere, Argentinian artist Jorge Macchi presents a large and immersive installation, consisting of 27 iron bars bent over and around one another. US performance superstar, Rhys Chatham will be staging a spectacular concert with 100 electric guitarists. The concert, in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, will be part of the biennial’s opening weekend celebrations.
The Royal Mail Sorting Office on Copperas Street will be home to City States. 60 artists from seven countries will exhibit works exploring the relation between city and state. The Bloomberg New Contemporaries art school showcase will share the Sorting Office space.
A full programme for the biennial is available online, along with information about the artists, locations and special events and talks
Main Image: Bridging Home by Do Ho Suh, commisioned by Liverpool Biennial for Touched 2010
Cunard Building image via Califer001's Flickr
The Mad Lift image by Oded Hirsch