“Captain’s Dream – Art Biennale in Antarctica”

The wild Russian artist and boat captain, Alexander Ponomarev, follows his bold dream to create the first Biennale in Antarctica. His vision is an expedition: a convergence of international artists and visionaries in a paramount icy backdrop, which catalyzes creation and opens a unique space for debate about the future of humanity and responsibility towards the planet.

In a borderless continent, at the beginning and end of all meridians, lunar landscapes replace curated pavilions, ascetic cabins replace luxurious suites and silence and purity replace hype and distraction. We embark on a voyage with 100 celebrated trans-disciplinary artists and scientists as they carry out ephemeral installations on shore, giving Antarctica an artistic and cultural voice for the first time. In creating a biennale at the edge of human activity, the voyage culminates in an explosion of consciousness; the realization that the Antarctic waters directly reflect distant human activities’ impact.

Guided by Ponomarev’s deep poetic voice, Captains Dream confronts contemporary visionaries to an engaging challenge: how can their artistic voices awaken the wider public to share responsibility? In our current paradigm, how can humanity collaborate to maintain peace and preserve nature in shared spaces? It all begins, as the artistic crew strives to build a legacy without leaving a trace.

HANI RASHID – Co-founder of Asymptote Architecture and Artistic Advisory Board Member of the Antarctic Biennial

Hani Rashid founded Asymptote in Milan in 1989. As Design Partner Hani works closely with both clients and Asymptote’s experienced senior architects in realizing unique creative and intelligent visions and projects. With over twenty years of experience in leading design teams from conceptual sketches to built realizations, Hani has achieved international recognition for his work and Asymptote’s global renown.

Alongside Hani’s professional work he has a distinguished international academic career having held numerous visiting professorships at a number of important universities including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. As Associate Professor of Architecture at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture Hani co-developed the school’s  Advanced Digital Design program in 1991 and co founded the Paperless Design Studios in 1996. Hani Rashid has held the Kenzo Tange Chair for Architecture at Harvard and served on the steering committee for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Presently Hani leads the Deep_Futures  research department and is the International Dean of the Institute of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. In 2000 Hani Rashid co-represented the United States at the 7th Venice Architecture Biennale and in 2004 he was awarded the Chair to the Cátedra Luis Barragán in Monterrey, Mexico, Also in 2004 Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture were awarded the Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts. Hani received a Master of Architecture degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1985.

JOHN BLAFFER ROYALL – Organizer Antarctic Biennale

Born in New York City, John Royall has organized and lead countless art events and exhibitions worldwide. Collaborating with leading museums, foundations, universities and artists his focus has been on utopic visions for the future and the past.  He is a principal at Adelphi Securities Ltd., a Texas-based investment partnership. He was previously the CFO of Time Link International and held several positions in private equity and investment banking at HEP Fund, Credit Suisse, UBS and Wheat First Butcher Singer. He is a board member of Texas Gulf Bank and the Blaffer Museum, the contemporary art museum of the University of Houston. He serves on a number of board position for foundations supporting the arts and international relations. John lives with his wife Celiane in London, England.