PADiGLiONE iN MOViMENTO – Jens Besser

The Venice Art Biennale is the world’s first exhibition for contemporary art, starting as early as 1895. Several countries present artworks in 28 international pavilions in the common two year rhythm. Since (abstract) graffiti, also on trains, is often considered as art an loose artists collective joined the festival with an unauthorized “Pavilion of the Vandals”. With PADiGLiONE iN MOViMENTO (moving pavilion) Dresden based artist Jens Besser compiled a exhibition catalogue-like book on these works.

The 112-paged softcover opens with a historic entry introducing late 1990s abstract works on Venetian trains which came up seemingly without influences of traditional New York linked stylewriting roots but also graffiti related forms of Biennale related works from the recent past from Zelle Asphaltkultur, Banksy, FUTURA2000, DAIM, or JR.

The three large main chapters present the works, several detailed analysis and background information on the actions happening in the years 2017 (‘ViVA TRENO ViVA’), 2022 (‘PADiGLiONE VANDALEi’) and 2024 (‘THE GOLDEN BENCH’). Right from the beginning each work was accompanied by a label just like official Biennale artworks, although executed on regional trains or near the railway tracks.

The various abstract trainworks are done by ALEX, APPLPIER, ATFA, CANNOLO, CATH, FINO, FLUX, GRAF SICHTBAR, JOAO POCOLO, LAYER1, LYRA & LYRO, MR. TRAINWASH, NEXR, SHLOMO FABER, SLOMO, VANDAL, WEICHENSCHLEICHER and XEROX SHLM. Since none of the works exist anymore Jens Besser’s book allows to retrace the first three volumes of this non-official project and keeps the reader curious for the 2026 edition.

112 pages, 17 x 24 cm, softcover
Edition size: 300
Language: English
Editior: Jens Besser
Release date: December 2025
Publisher: urban script continues & Doppelhand