'Olympic games of the art world' Venice Biennale opens to public

London, June 8 (ANI): The Venice Biennale, the oldest and most high profile contemporary art exhibition, is going on public display.

The exhibition, which has gained tremendous popularity across the globe since it was founded in 1895 to celebrate new developments in international art, has spread across the Italian city.

National pavilions have been set up in public gardens to showcase the work of leading artists from each of the 77 participating countries.

And all eyes are wandering to see who would bag the top prize - the Golden Lion - at the Olympic games of the art world.

Swedish curator Daniel Birnbaum said that the Biennale remained the key attraction despite hundreds more exhibitions just a boat ride away.

"With all the big museums and all the art fairs and festivals and triennales, still the Biennale has this attraction. It has magnetism," the BBC quoted Birnbaum as saying.

"The Venice Biennale is not here to be loved, it's here to be discussed. And if people keep coming back to discuss it, that's the best result that we can have," he added. (ANI)