Art looks to the future at Venice Biennale

At the Venice Biennale, Germany is presenting the installation "Factory in the Sun" by Hito Steyerl. Born in 1966 in Munich, Steyerl is also a documentary filmmaker and professor in Berlin. The work uses video game imagery to play with reality and comment on our state of freedom. The prestigious art biennale in Italy is half-way through its seven-month run. DW presents some of the highlights.

The Japan Pavilion hosts the exhibition "The Key in the Hand" by Chiharu Shiota, who was born in Osaka and now lives in Berlin. Of the work, the artist said on the Biennale website, "My aim is to represent memories, opportunities and hope. The hanging old keys represent all these human conditions."

While most Pavilions include works from various artists, the Dutch have given over the keys to Herman de Vries to represent the Netherlands alone. Trained as a horticulturalist and natural scientists, de Vries' sculptures, artworks and photographs are collected under the title "To Be All Ways To Be," which explores the disparities between experience and reflection.

The top honor, the Golden Lion for best national participation at the Biennale contemporary art fair, was awarded to the Republic of Armenia for its pavilion presenting works by the Armenian diaspora on the 100th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

The Armenian exhibition "Armenity" is hosted on the small island of Isola San Lazzaro, located on the Venetian lagoon where the Armenian monk Mekhitar arrived after fleeing persecution from the Ottoman Empire in 1717. The exhibition brings together 18 Armenian artists and confronts the concept of identity. The cross-generational show includes this work by French-based artist Melik Ohanian.

The visitor in the photo is walking through an installation entitled "Occupations/Discoveries" by Brazilian artist Antonio Manuel. Brazil hosts one of the 30 permanent pavilions - designed by Amerigo Marchesin in 1964. Also exhibiting in the Brazilian Pavilion this year are artists André Komatsu and Berna Reale.

The Nordic Pavilion is a partnership between Finland, Norway and Sweden, who artists exhibited together until 2009, when they decided to rotate. This year the Nordic Pavilion - dedicated to Norway - is home to Camille Norment, who has created a sculptural and sonic installation with music composed on the glass armonica - an instrument thought in the 18th century to induce states of ecstasy.

A work by artist Marzia Migliora can be seen in the Italian Pavilion. The Nigerian critic, curator, and writer Okwui Enwezor is responsible for this year's international art Exhibition and is the first African-born curator of the event.

An all-female British-French duo performed outside the British Pavilion at the Festival, which opened in May. The Biennale also hosts a separate music program, which runs from October 2-11 and features a range of concerts, including performances from Pierre Boulez, Georges Aperghis, Helmut Lachenmann, and Giuseppe Sinopoli.

Here, a visitor is contemplating artwork by Mimmo Paladino in the Italian Pavilion. Paladino, a sculptor, painter and printmaker, first exhibited his work at the Venice Biennale in 1980. The Holy See is also participating at this year's event, with an exhibition entitled "In Principio…la parola si fece Carne," or "In the beginning...the word was made flesh."

The installation "Reisefieber" by Polish artist Dorota Nieznalska is on display at the "Dispossession" exhibition, one of the official collateral events of the Biennale. The show looks at the theme of migration and the sometimes harrowing search for a home.

Australian artist Fiona Hall was selected to represent Australia at this year's Venice Biennale, with her exhibition "Wrong Way Time." The Australian Pavilion was completed in 2015, replacing a temporary structure designed by Philip Cox and constructed in 1988. Actress Cate Blanchett was amongst those who donated money for the new permanent structure.