Dear Y4 Parents
This is our forst educational visit! Please read all of the information below (or here) and please let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you and kind regards,
The Y4 Team
Details:
- When: Thursday, September 15th
- Where: Venezia, Giardini
- What: Biennale workshop
- Unit of Inquiry How we Express Ourselves: students will visit the Biennale as a way to see how arts can express ideas and change perceptions. As they view the art they will have the opportunity to consider their own emotions, ideas and beliefs. Artist Celia Vásquez Yui belongs to the Shipibo, an Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon. For the Shipibo, there is a reciprocal relationship with works of art: looking at art also means allowing the artwork, in some way, to look back at you. This belief is rooted in the power of kené, an ancient geometric art form and spiritual practice in which intricate geometric patterns are carved and painted onto a variety of surfaces. These designs are based on lines, spirals, and labyrinth-like paths that intertwine in ways that appear highly complex, yet remain carefully balanced and symmetrical. They are believed to possess optical qualities capable of bringing about subtle transformations in the viewer, functioning as a form of “drawing as medicine.” Inspired by the tradition of kené, this workshop invites children to explore the printmaking technique of woodcut (xylography) to create their own intricate geometric patterns and design their own spirit animals.
Logistics:
- Program: We will leave school promptly at 8.30 (please don’t be late!) and return by the end of the school day. We will take a private bus to Tronchetto (Venice) and then the private waterbus Alilaguna to get closer to the Giardini location of Biennale
- What to wear: school uniform, a windproof jacket, a hat and comfortable walking shoes
- What to bring: a small backpack (no trolley) and a full water bottle
- Snack and lunch: we will provide them (students should not bring any food with them)
What to do if:
- My child can’t participate: if it’s either a scheduled absence or your child is sick, please inform us as soon as possible.
- Please note: the educational visit is effectively part of the didactic programme of the school. For this reason, we expect all students to participate.
Payment and confirmation:
- Daily trips are included in the “2026-27 daily trips” fee that you will receive in the next few weeks, so no extra payment is needed for this trip.