Hyperallergic Critics Name the Worst National Pavilions at the 61st Venice Biennale
In the latest installment of their series, Hyperallergic's Hrag Vartanian and critic Aruna D'Souza evaluate the ongoing 61st Venice Biennale, which will conclude on November 22. They express disappointment with Germany's pavilion, citing its clichéd political messages, and draw unfavorable comparisons to the US pavilion. Vartanian described Saudi Arabia's Dana Awartani installation as lacking depth, while D'Souza offered a more favorable view. Post-preview, Qatar's pavilion was deemed uninspired, and Austria's presentation was labeled tiresome. The Russian pavilion was closed after the preview, with Pussy Riot staging a protest outside. India's pavilion, curated by Amin Jaffer and financed by the Ambani family, showcased five artists. Noteworthy pavilions also included Great Britain's Lubaina Himid, Japan's Ei Arakawa-Nash, and China's calligraphy exhibit.
Key facts
- The 61st Venice Biennale runs through November 22.
- Hyperallergic Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian and critic Aruna D'Souza co-authored the two-part series.
- Germany's pavilion was criticized as trite political commentary that ignores the country's intolerance.
- Saudi Arabia's pavilion, featuring Dana Awartani, divided the critics; about 90% of its funds went to tile artisans.
- Russia's pavilion was officially closed by the Biennale after the press preview, and Pussy Riot performed outside in protest.
- India's pavilion was funded by the Ambani family and included Asim Waqif's bamboo structure flown to Venice when the Strait of Hormuz was blocked.
- China's pavilion featured an AI-powered robot reproducing Wang Dongling's calligraphy.
- Switzerland's pavilion revisited an April 1978 Swiss public television debate on homosexuality.
Entities
Artists
- Hrag Vartanian
- Aruna D'Souza
- Hakim Bishara
- Dana Awartani
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Alma Allen
- Aline Bouvy
- Maja Malou Lyse
- H.G. Wells
- Amin Jaffer
- Alwar Balasubramaniam
- Ranjani Shettar
- Sonam Skarma Tashi
- Sumakshi Singh
- Asim Waqif
- Nita Ambani
- Mukesh Ambani
- Jeff Bezos
- Lubaina Himid
- Ei Arakawa-Nash
- Josh Kline
- Wang Dongling
- Andreas Angelidakis
- Faiza Butt
- Pussy Riot
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
- Venice Biennale
- Forbes
- Met Gala
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Germany
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Austria
- Russia
- United States
- Israel
- Morocco
- Luxembourg
- Denmark
- India
- Tamil Nadu
- Ladakh
- Great Britain
- Japan
- China
- Greece
- Pakistan
- Punjab
- Switzerland
- West Asia
- West Palm Beach
- Hamptons
- New York
- Strait of Hormuz
- Dorsoduro