A new book titled "High Waters: An Oral History of the Venice Biennale" (JRP Editions), edited by Massimiliano Gioni, features interviews with 16 of the 17 curators who have organized the main exhibition since 1993. The curators candidly discuss their proposals, challenges, and complaints, particularly about limited budgets, while reflecting on the Biennale's unique international audience, its structure of national pavilions, and the camaraderie that emerges under pressure. Notable figures interviewed include Okwui Enwezor, Daniel Birnbaum, Adriano Pedrosa, María de Corral, Rosa Martínez, Robert Storr, Ralph Rugoff, and Cecilia Alemani.
The book matters because it offers an unprecedented insider perspective on one of the world's most prestigious art exhibitions, revealing how curators navigate financial constraints, media scrutiny, and institutional politics to shape contemporary art discourse. By capturing divergent views on the Biennale's purpose—whether as a recording device of its time, a site for experimentation, or a platform for historical surveys—the oral history underscores the event's evolving role in the global art world and its enduring influence on artistic production and reception.