The prestigious Venice Biennale, now on its 56th year, has opened to the public today for its seven-month run that will exhibit works by contemporary artists from 89 countries strategically located in various sites such as museums, palazzos, and churches around the historic city. 

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This year's festival is titled "All the World's Futures," and will be curated by Nigerian art critic and museum director Okwui Enwezor. Enwezor is the first African to curate the Biennale contemporary art fair.  

The event, chaired by Paolo Baratta, will be open to the public from May 9th to November 22nd. This year, there are more female artists representing the countries than ever, exhibiting a trend seen as an "informal rebalancing in the art world."

It may be a coincidence, but the national pavilions seem to feature more female artists, changing the notion that art is generally male-dominated. The female artists are include Joan Jonas from the United States, Sarah Lucas of Great Britain, Pamela Rosenkranz of Switzerland, Irina Nakhova of Russia, Australia's Fiona Hall, Chiharu Shiota for Japan, and Camille Norment for Norway.

Joan Jonas began her artistic career in the 1960s as a sculptor. She said that it is indeed wonderful to see more female artists this year. Her exhibition, titled "They Come to Us Without a Word," is made up of four galleries that utilize prints, video installations, and objects that take inspiration from the written words of Icelandic writer Halldor Laxness as she explores natural phenomena. In the fifth gallery of the pavilion's central rotunda, Jonas uses a crystal chandelier and Murano-made mirrors that become a study of light and reflection.

Other female artists whose works were noticeable are by Chiharu Shiota of Japan and Fiona Hall from Australia. Shiota has created an overwhelming installation, "The Key in the Hand," made up of a web of bright red strings, two wooden boats, and thousands of metal keys which the artist solicited from the public. 

At the new Australian Pavilion is Fiona Hall's politically charged sculptures and installations title "Wrong Way Time" which feature hanging figures that have been knitted from shredded military uniforms.  

Tags56th Venice Biennale, Venice Biennale 2015, women artists, art, installation