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Eastern Biennale in Dresden: Record attendance despite financial hurdles!
The Ostrale Biennale in Dresden recorded a record 32,000 visitors in 2023 and shows contemporary art from 32 nations.
Eastern Biennale in Dresden: Record attendance despite financial hurdles!
The Ostral in Dresden impressively ended its 15th Biennale and set an audience record. With over 32,000 visitors, the contemporary art exhibition was very well received. This presentation ended on October 5, 2023 and can be viewed as a great success story for Dresden as an art location. However, the event was not without its challenges, as there were financing problems that resulted in the opening times being restricted.
The exhibition took place in the former canteen of the GDR high-tech robotron, an architectural example of Eastern modernism. The building was designed for the exhibition with a lot of color and creativity, making the sound-absorbing wall coverings, old radiators and wooden paneling shine in a new light. This created a special atmosphere that invited art lovers and newcomers to an exciting visit.
Art and politics in exchange
Over 100 artists from 32 nations showed their works, which are often influenced by political themes - but the selection was nevertheless based on artistic criteria. Drorit Gur Arie, the Israeli art historian and curator, emphasized the importance of bringing diverse voices from the Middle East to the biennale. This voice and diversity are not only important for the Ostrale, but also reflect current events in the art scene.
OSTRALE, which has been operating internationally since 2007, has changed and developed. Originally launched as an annual event, it has been celebrated as a biennale since 2017 - a sign of its growing reputation in contemporary art. In fact, the aim of the Biennale is to reach an art-interested audience who may have no prior knowledge of classical art. This opening means that not only die-hard art lovers but also those who are newly interested are invited to discover the world of contemporary art. The first Biennale in 2007 attracted attention with over 20,000 m² of exhibition space and has continuously expanded its influence since then.
The uniqueness of the Biennale
Visitor numbers prove the steady increase: from 18,000 in 2013 to the current 32,000 in 2023, the rise is impressive. In recent years, the Biennale has increasingly integrated other formats such as performances, workshops or discussion groups in order to appeal to a broad audience. In any case, the underlying idea of the Biennale remains to critically reflect on society.
Some connection to the upcoming 13th. Berlin Biennale is also not to be missed, which will take place from June 14th to September 14th, 2025. It is clear that such events not only function as a platform for artists, but also as a space for exchange and discussion about social issues.
In summary, the Ostrale and other biennales like the one in Berlin shine not only through the works of art on display, but also through the space they create for creative and political conversations. This diversity demonstrates, not least, a good sense of the needs of today's art lovers and society as a whole.