MIRAGES LXXXI

Thomas Hirschhorn, The Green Coffin, 2006, wood, spray paint, polystyrene, hands made of synthetic resin and ceramic, watches, tape, prints, cardboard, fabric, chess, chessboards, crustaceans made of plastic, sculptures, photocopies, handbags, 359 x 112.9 x 436 cm, © Thomas Hirschhorn, Courtesy the artist and Alfonso Artiaco  Gallery

This is a difficult Spring. And this is because, although May—associated with the 61st Venice Biennale—should have been a radiant month filled with art, works, proposals, discussions, everything that precedes and follows such a major event, albeit on a smaller scale as suggested by its title “In Minor Keys,” yet featuring large-scale works at the Giardini, the Arsenale, and the parallel events— instead, from the death of its curator, Koyo Kouoh, last May, to the resignation of the Committee yesterday, everything indicates that we are going through an extremely difficult period: a fragile Spring that risks being lost within the deep Winter of an ongoing state of war that continues to shake humanity.

And don’t forget to explore Traces and Architecture through artists and architects who have left—and continue to leave—their mark on history, and who are connected to the month of May, such as the artists: James Turrell (6/5/1943- ), Jan Dibbets (9/5/1941- ), Joseph Beuys (12/5/1921-23/1/1986), Teresita Fernández (12/5/1968- ), Frank Stella (12/5/1936-4/5/2024), Jasper Johns (15/5/1930- ), Thomas Hirschhorn (16/5/1957- ), Jean Tinguely (22/5/1925-30/8/1991), Marisa Merz (23/5/1926-19/7/2019), Gina Pane (24/5/1939-6/3/1990), Nobuyoshi Araki (25/5/1940- ), Agnès Varda, (30/5/1928-29/3/2019), Carmen Herrera (31/5/1915-12/2/2022), Ellsworth Kelly (31/5/1923-27/12/15). And the architects: Jacques Herzog (19/4/1950- ) & Pierre de Meuron (8/5/1950- ), I.M. Pei (2/4/1917-16/5/2019), James Stirling (22/4/1926-25/6/1992),  Peter Zumthor (26/4/1943- ), Aldo Rossi (3/5/1931-4/9/1997), Gordon Bunshaft (9/5/1909-6/8/1990), Christian de Portzamparc (9/5/1944- ), Frei Paul Otto (31/5/1925-9/3/2015).

R.I.P. Georg Baselitz (23/1/1938-30/4/2026)

Photo: Thomas Hirschhorn, The Green Coffin, 2006, wood, spray paint, polystyrene, hands made of synthetic resin and ceramic, watches, tape, prints, cardboard, fabric, chess, chessboards, crustaceans made of plastic, sculptures, photocopies, handbags, 359 x 112.9 x 436 cm, © Thomas Hirschhorn, Courtesy the artist and Alfonso Artiaco  Gallery

Good Month!
Efi Michalarou
2/5/2026