Paolo Baratta, the President of La Biennale di Venezia, presenting this edition, said: "The 57th Exhibition introduces a further development. It is as though what has always been our primary work method —encounter and dialogue— has now become the theme of the Exhibition, because this year’s Biennale is dedicated to celebrating, and almost giving thanks for, the very existence of art and artists, whose worlds expand our perspective and the space of our existence. Christine Macel has called it an 'Exhibition inspired by humanism.' (…) In this type of humanism, the artistic act is contemporaneously an act of resistance, of liberation and of generosity."
complete Statement by Baratta

Awards of the 57th International Art Exhibition:

Golden Lion for best National Participation:
Germany, Anne Imhof

Special mention for a National Participation:
Brazil, Cinthia Marcelle

Golden Lion for the Best Artist of the exhibition Viva Arte Viva:
Franz Erhard Walther (* 1939 Germany)

Silver Lion for a Promising Young Artist:
Hassan Khan (* 1975 UK)

Special mentions:
Charles Atlas (* 1949 USA)
Petrit Halilaj (* 1986 Kosovo)

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement:
Carolee Schneemann

Jury of the 57th International Art Exhibition:
Manuel J. Borja-Villel (President of the Jury, Spain)
Francesca Alfano Miglietti (Italy)
Amy Cheng (Taiwan)
Ntone Edjabe (Cameroon)
Mark Godfrey (Great Britain)