Social Light: LAYLOW 180 Palazzo at the 58th Venice Biennale
LAYLOW founder Taz Fustok and Mark Wadhwa of creative hub, 180 The Strand, joined forces to create the LAYLOW 180 Palazzo, the entertainment epicentre of the 58th Venice Biennale’s vernissage week. Straddling Monday to Friday, artists, designers, creative influencers and international figureheads were wined and dined by chef Matthew Ryle and the LAYLOW team.
Highlights included a Jamie xx set on Monday and a dinner hosted by Wadhwa and the Biennale’s curator Ralph Rugoff on Tuesday. The 1,300-strong guest list included Virgil Abloh, Karla Otto and Jay Joplin who were treated to a carefully curated smörgåsbord of entertainment by The Vinyl Factory.
Guests of Wednesday’s opening of the Ghanaian Pavilion designed by Sir David Adjaye included First Lady of Ghana Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Christian Louboutin, Amal Clooney and, as rumour would have it, the Venetian Police. Thursday’s proceedings were marginally more subdued. Jack Peñate treated the Serpentine’s Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Yana Peel and many more to material from his latest album.
On Friday, glasses were raised and the baton was handed to Heist gallery, which will be occupying the LAYLOW 180 Palazzo for the remainder of the Biennale. The space will house She Persists, an all-female exhibition by artists including Mithu Sen, Maria Kreyn and former actress Rose McGowan, who presents her work for the very first time.
Originally Appeared on Vanity Fair
