Paola Viganò to Curate Swiss Pavilion at 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale
The Swiss Pavilion at the upcoming 20th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, scheduled for 2027, will be curated by architect Paola Viganò. Her project, titled "I am water," will delve into the significance of water in context to ecology, politics, and land use, aiming to showcase Switzerland as "Europe's water tower." Viganò will collaborate with StudioPaolaViganò and a diverse curatorial team including Maria Medusheskaya, Etienne Schillers, and artist Marie Velardi. The Biennale will be open from May 8 to November 21, 2027, under the guidance of curators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu. Pro Helvetia has managed the pavilion since 2012.
Key facts
- Paola Viganò selected by Pro Helvetia to curate Swiss Pavilion at 20th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2027.
- Proposal titled 'I am water' explores water as resource, subject, legal entity, and force.
- Project takes Switzerland's role as 'Europe's water tower' as conceptual point of departure.
- Installation combines design research, artistic interventions, and perspectives from political ecology, science, technology, and law.
- Curatorial team includes Maria Medusheskaya, Etienne Schillers, Alessio Tamiazzo, Paolo Benettin (UNIL), Loan Laurent (HRC-EPFL), artist Marie Velardi, and collaborators from ESTIA.
- Specialist jury unanimously recommended Viganò: Ariane Widmer Pham, Dagnija Smilga, John Palmesino, Mariam Issoufou, João Ferreira Nunes.
- 2027 Biennale curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu under theme 'Do Architecture — The Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of Real Reality,' runs May 8 to November 21, 2027.
- Switzerland has had a national pavilion in Giardini since 1991; Pro Helvetia has overseen exhibitions since 2012.
Entities
Artists
- Paola Viganò
- Marie Velardi
- Elena Chiavi
- Kathrin Füglister
- Amy Perkins
- Axelle Stiefel
- Myriam Uzor
- Lisbeth Sachs
- Wang Shu
- Lu Wenyu
Institutions
- Pro Helvetia
- StudioPaolaViganò
- UNIL
- HRC-EPFL
- ESTIA
- Swiss Pavilion
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Giardini
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Giardini