By Gemma Tipton
With the Venice Biennale now in full swing, thousands of hot sweaty art lovers are shuffling their way through queues. Exhibitions and installations spread across palazzos, churches, national pavilions and the vast Arsenale, while superyachts spoil the lagoon views. On show is the work of artists representing almost 100 countries, including Ireland’s Eimear Walshe with their film and installation Romantic Ireland.
Stays in Venice range from the ultra luxurious and costly Ca’Sagredo, which is rather like sleeping in a glorious movie set. Prices are €400-€3,000 and up, but the rooms themselves would have you weeping with joy, and you might find it rather hard to make it to the Biennale itself – if you like loads of spindly gilt-edged furniture, chandeliers and frescoes, that is. Or find apartments and B&Bs popping up all over town for Biennale stays, with prices from €120 per night for two at Airbnb. Venice gets less costly, and quieter as soon as you pull back from the main tourist areas of the Grand Canal, San Marco and Rialto. As the whole city is very walkable and is such a perfect spot to get lost in wandering around, there is no need to splash out on a prime location, unless you’re feeling like you want to spend to be on show yourself.
The Biennale, dubbed the Olympics of the art world, ends in November, so there’s plenty of time to go, but you can also sate your arty appetite in a more relaxed fashion by checking into one of the growing number of hotels where you can sleep with contemporary art, and imagine, for the duration of your stay at least, that you are living (or lunching) in your own private gallery. Some collectors display their works in hotels, or even establish hotels for the purpose to get the relevant tax breaks, but whatever the reason it’s a tasty fringe benefit to your mini break. But be warned, art and beauty are always in the eye of the beholder: one person’s dream art hotel may be a recipe for another one’s nightmares. Travel enough to these types of places, and you can start to play a kind of Art Bingo, as there are some artists that seem more hotel friendly than others. Andy Warhol, check. Sean Scully, check. Louise Bourgeois, full house!
IN IRELAND
Gormleys at Castlemartyr Resort, Cork
East Cork’s Castlemartyr Resort is alive with art until June 23rd, as Gormleys bring their annual Art + Soul extravaganza to the halls and parklands with more than 300 works on show. Including Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, Patrick O’Reilly and Patrick Hughes, guided tours are available, it’s all great fun and it’s all for sale. This year includes Dance of Time II, by the late surrealist maestro Salvador Dalí. It’s valued at a cool €1.1 million, but Art and Soul packages are from €379 per room, so you can have your fill in a more affordable fashion, and even find dinner at the two Michelin Star, Terre, a comparative steal. castlemartyrresort.ie.
Can’t make Castlemartyr? The next edition of Art + Soul is at Kildare’s K Club, August 10th-September 1st, from €279.20 per room, kclub.ie. On alternate years, Belfast’s gorgeous Culloden Estate hosts the show, so book now for an August 2025 stay, or just go anyway, as this former bishop’s palace is lovely at any time of year. From €240 per room, cullodenestateandspa.com.
Link to full article- www.irishtimes.com
