'Llim' by Lara Fluxà opens at Catalan pavilion at Venice Biennale

'Llim', an exhibtion by the Mallorcan artist Lara Fluxà and commissioned by Oriol Fontdevila, was unveiled at the Catalonia in Venice space at the 59th Venice Biennale on Wednesday.

The work can be seen at the world's most important international art event from April 23 until November 25, as part of the Eventi Collaterali program.

The Venice Biennale "represents an international leap for Lara Fluxà and a success for Catalan culture," the Catalan culture minister, Natàlia Garriga, said at the inauguration event.

'Llim' – in English, Silt – is an installation consisting of a tanks and glass pipes. It "places water and glass in the forefront, as elements inherent to the history of Venice, to create an organism indicative of a plethora of concepts," according to the Institut Ramon Llull, producers of the Catalan exhibition.

A pump system installed on the bank of the San Pietro Canal draws up water to continuously feed the building that houses the exhibition. Inside, the water circulating clears up the silt extracted.

After a few minutes, the water returns to Venice's water network. The installation itself – or "organism" – also moves.

Catalan culture on a high

Culture minister Natàlia Garriga highlighted the various sucesses of Catalan culture at an international level in recent times, including Carla Simón's film Alcarràs winning the Golden Bear at the Berlinale, the prominent presence of Catalan writers at the London Book Fair, and the opening of an exhibition dedicated to Gaudí at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. [ADD LINKS]

Garriga was joined at the launch by the Institut Ramon Llull's director, Pere Almeda and the Balearic Islands' general director of culture, Catalina Solivellas, as well as curator Oriol Fontdevila and artist Lara Fluxà.

The minister praised "the good work that the Institut Ramon Llull has been developing for years to promote Catalan culture abroad." The organization has produced Catalonia's participation in the Venice Biennale since 2009.

Garriga also highlighted Fluxà's development as an example of an artistic career in Catalonia, with more to come. Fluxà "trained at the University of Barcelona's Faculty of Fine Arts, she has followed a journey through Fundació Joan Miró's Espai 13, the Sala d'Art Jove of the Secretariat of Youth, has had a research and innovation grant from the Department of Culture and has been a resident artist in La Panera. We are convinced that the Biennale will represent an international leap and the beginning of a successful new stage."

The 59th edition of the Venice Biennale will feature 213 artists from 58 countries.