Meet the Venetians

Most would agree that one’s perspective of a city is enriched by having direct access to those who actually live in it, day to day. As attendants, we are so very fortunate to have this access in the form of our wonderful Italian co-attendants, all of whom are fiercely proud Venetians by birth and/or ancestry and all extremely smart and capable individuals. 

Since many of the visitors to the Biennale are locals, our Venetian cohorts are indispensable to us. In addition to performing daily duties alongside us at the venues, they are able to assist with communication breakdowns & re-direct lost and weary tourists/Biennale visitors, offer the occasional Italian language/history lesson, give recommendations to the best restaurants in the city far from the tourist hordes, engage in lively debate about the NZ exhibits and on occasion, wax lyrical about the complexities of political alignment within Italy. All with the utmost grace, professionalism, and with a smile. 

Present throughout the entire duration of the Biennale until it’s conclusion in November, our Italian colleagues will meet each of the NZ attendants for the duration of their post and must also say ‘Arrivederci’ on their departure. In other words, the Italians are running the endurance race, and we kiwi’s are the relay team alongside them. 

Over dinner last week the subject of farewells was ever present since the occasion marked the completion of Thomasin’s six-week term at the Biennale. Veronica, our remarkable Venetian/Sardinian/NZ host, lamented at the frequency of the NZ attendant turnover, explaining that close bonds are very quickly established and that for her and the girls who remain, departures still come as a shock. Acutely aware that I am already two weeks into my own term, I am mindful that my experience of Venice has been greatly impacted by meeting these girls and am resigned to the fact that when it is my turn to exit, there will be tears! 

But for now, I thought it was about time that our delightful Venetian whanau were introduced….

ANNA DE STEFANO

Venetian attendant for Francis Upritchard's Save Yourself, Palazzo Mangili-Valmarana

Born: Venice, 1988 (Taurus)

Lives: Lido, Venice, Italy

Occupation: Tertiary Student

Political views: Liberal

Languages: Italian, Venetian, Intermediate English, Basic German

Anna is currently a tertiary student studying for her Laurea (degree) in Art Restoration at Universita Ca Foscari. To enable her to undertake the highly specialized restoration work that is required in Venice, Anna intends to gain practical experience in either Rome or Florence following her graduation. Anna is a triplet and relayed an amusing story about the time she and her sister became local celebrities for dating a pair of twins. Anna would like to travel and is especially keen to visit London. She enjoys drawing and reading romance novels including literature by Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. Her pick of the Giardini is Tomas Saraceno from Argentina located in the Italian pavilion. 

MARZIA ORTOLANI

Venetian attendant for Francis Upritchard's Save Yourself, Palazzo Mangili-Valmarana

Born: Venice, 1988 (Leo)

Lives: San Polo, Venice, Italy

Occupation: Tertiary Student

Political views: Liberal

Languages: Italian, Basic Venetian, Intermediate English, Basic French

Marzia is studying for her Laurea in Art Conservation at Universita Ca Foscari. Like Anna, she intends to work abroad or in a larger city such as Rome or Milan for experience and eventually settle back in Venice to raise a family. Marzia’s maternal family originates from Southern Italy. Marzia is grateful that she has been raised in Venice and considers it rare to find a place where you can walk the streets alone at night without fear of harassment. She is fervent and liberal in her political views and is concerned that the youth of Venice are being overlooked in favor of economic gain through tourism. Venetians, especially young students, are slowly being pushed out of their city, since the housing and rent has become so inflated as a result of foreign demand for summer vacation houses and investment rentals for tourists. Marzia’s favorite authors include Milan Kundera and Dino Buzzati. Her favourite city is Rome and she would most like to visit New York. She owns a dog called Febe and is fiercely unapproachable before her breakfast has been consumed.

ANNA DAL BARGO

Venetian attendant for Judy Millar's Giraffe-Bottle-Gun, Chiesa La Maddelena

Born: Brazil (both parents are Venetian), 1991 (Aries)

Lives: Piazzale Roma, Venice, Italy

Occupation: Secondary School Student

Political views: Liberal

Languages: Italian, Basic Venetian, French

Anna is in her final year of secondary school, ‘Franchetti’ in Mestre. She is studying in the Classical School for Humanistic subjects (which includes Latin, Greek, Italian and English languages and literature) to which she transferred after completing two years of Scientifica (Science) school. Anna hopes to study medicine and psychology at the University of Padua. She is currently reading the Italian neoclassical author, Ugo Foscolo, a writer of similar stature and philosophy to Goethe. Anna plays the piano, flute and guitar and enjoys writing short stories and plays. She is particularly interested in developing narratives around the psychological transition from childhood to adulthood. Anna is currently working on a marvelous short story that gives life to the characters in Frances Upritchard’s exhibition. We eagerly await its publication!

Next blog: Maria Maltauro, Emiliano Ravagnan & Lucia Valle