Press releases
illycaffè renews its sponsorship of the 53rd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
May 26, 2009
Trieste, May 26th, 2009 – After having sponsored the previous editions in 1997, 2003, 2005, and 2007, illycaffé renews this year its collaboration with the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia curated by Daniel Birnbaum.
According to illy, coffee is a precious opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and stimulate the brain; it’s the right chance for a thoughtful break and to relax. In order to achieve this goal, illy has been actively contributing for over twenty years now to the diffusion of contemporary art, by supporting artists and international exhibitions.
illy Art Collection, made of sets of cups designed by artists since 1992, is one of the most unmistakable expressions of illycaffè relations with contemporary art. Some among the most prominent names in the international art scenery and young promising artists have accordingly made of an everyday life object such as a cup – in this case restyled by the architect and designer Matteo Thun - a “cult” item. Michelangelo Pistoletto and Marina Abramovich, Jeff Koons and Bob Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Julian Schnabel are among the well-known Maestros who have given their personal contribution to this project.
The last illy Art Collection designed by Tobias Rehberger will be displayed these very days: Rehberger, chosen by the director of the 53rd International Art Exhibition, Daniel Birnbaum, is the designer who signed the artistic project of the new restaurant-bar inside the Palazzo delle Esposizioni at the Giardini as well. The leitmotif of his projects is mimesis: in fact his cup seems to fade away within the bar, to hide from view in a fascinating and unusual optic effect, and to make a unique and far-reaching project happen at the same time.
illycaffè supports the Italian-Latin-American Institute, an international organization asked by La Biennale di Venezia since 1972 to facilitate the participation, in its own pavilion, of Latin-American artists at the International Art Exhibitions. For the high exhibition level achieved, the Institute this year has received by the 53rd International Art Exhibition a site of 700 additional square meters inside the Artiglierie dell’Arsenale. IILA is becoming more and more a reference point for all those Latin-American countries which have no pavilion of their own and would otherwise give up their participation to this key event.
illycaffè, a company with headquarters in Trieste, produces and markets a unique blend of espresso coffee under a single brand leader in quality. Over 6 million cups of illy espresso coffee are enjoyed worldwide every day. illy is sold in over 140 countries around the world and is available in more than 50,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars.
