Did you know that Venice has a ban on all forms of public advertising? No billboards touting legal services, no buses whizzing by with the latest lottery jackpot, no banners touting lunch specials hanging from buildings lining the canal, and no Yum! preceding Musica a Palazzo on the city’s concert hall.
This year, though, one gigantic Jumbotron devoted itself to advertising for five days during the start of the Venice Biennale.
Commercial Break, which was sponsored by the Garage Center for Contemporary Art in Moscow, aims to test the boundaries of advertising and explore the links between commerce and culture. More than 100 short films were shown in the 5 days of display; all of them can be watched at your desk here, and here’s a little sampling in preview form. One of our faves: Marilyn Minter’s Green Pink Caviar.
