THREE artists from Glasgow will represent Scotland at the biggest visual arts festival in the world, the Venice Biennale, it was announced yesterday.
Glasgow's contemporary art scene, considered one of the most vibrant in Europe, will feature prominently at the art exhibition in the Italian city.
The Common Guild, based in the city's west end, will curate the art of three contemporary artists who work with films, installations, sculpture and painting.
The Palazzo Pisani in Venice will next year be the venue for the work of Duncan Campbell, Hayley Tompkins and Corin Sworn, the first group show for Scotland since 2007.
Scotland has had its own show at the Biennale since 2003, outside the traditional British Pavilion, which next year will show art by Jeremy Deller, the artist who created the "bouncy" Stonehenge, a popular hit at this year's GI visual arts festival in Glasgow.
The Venice Biennale has been a successful showpiece for Scottish artists. Scotland representatives Karla Black, in 2011, and Martin Boyce, in 2009, were both shortlisted for the Turner Prize, with Boyce winning the prestigious award.
The 2013 Biennale, running from June to November next year, will be the 55th International Art Exhibition in the canal city – Scotland's appearance at the show will be its sixth.
The Common Guild described the artists as three of Scotland's "most compelling and consistently interesting".
Katrina Brown, director of The Common Guild, and until last week director of the GI Festival, said: "It is remarkable to think of all that has happened with contemporary art in Scotland since the first participation in the Venice Biennale back in 2003.
"This project will continue to foreground our artists and the wealth and breadth of talent here in a hugely significant international arena.
"We are very much looking forward to working with Duncan, Hayley and Corin in this context."
All three artists have studied at the Glasgow School of Art and live and work in the city.
Campbell, born in Dublin in 1972, is known for his film works "that blend archive, documentary material with fictional, imaginary elements." Recent topics of his "slippery biopics" include John DeLorean and Irish political activist Bernadette Devlin.
He said: "For an artist, the Biennale represents a unique opportunity: to make work that has currency. I am excited by this challenge and to be part of the general buzz."
Sworn, born in London in 1976, creates installations, and is currently artist-in-residence at St John's College, Oxford.
She said: "The prospect of working in Venice feels both formidable and thrilling and I look forward to seeing what work I can make for this dramatic and intriguing atmosphere."
Tompkins completed an MFA at the Glasgow School of Art in 1998 and lives and works in Glasgow. She was short-listed for the 2004 Becks Futures Prize and works with paintings and painted objects.
Tompkins said: "I look forward to imagining a new work and seeing it installed in such unique and historic surroundings, a mysterious place like Venice. It's a wonderful opportunity for any artist."
The Venice show will involve new works by the three artists in diverse forms and materials.
Scotland's pavilion in Venice is funded and supported by Creative Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and British Council Scotland.
Amanda Catto, chairwoman of the Scotland and Venice Partnership and manager for visual arts at Creative Scotland, said: "Since its establishment 10 years ago, the Scotland and Venice project has emerged as a significant international platform, promoting artists at the highest level internationally and building Scotland's reputation as a centre of excellence in and for the visual arts.
"The exhibition will showcase the vision, imagination and skill of the artists selected and we are looking forward to working in partnership with The Common Guild, who bring their significant knowledge and expertise to the project."
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