In pictures: Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale - the art world's equivalent to the Oscars - opens on Saturday.

The prestigious event runs over the summer and celebrates the best in international visual arts.

BBC News Online escorts you round some of the show's most interesting pieces.

British artist Ron Mueck's Boy - familiar from The Millennium Dome

A visitor examines a sculpture by Paul Pfeiffer, a Hawaii-born artist.

The Platea Dellumanita (The Stalls of Mankind) in the Italian pavillion

The Spanish photographer Christina Garcia Rodero is on display

US minimalist artist and sculpture Richard Serra will be honoured with a Golden Lion

Cy Twomley's work also features in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London

Japanese artist Masato Nakamura has a sculpture on display