ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

1993 Venice Biennale: Deterritorialization vs. Marginalization

exhibition · 2026-04-23

The 1993 Venice Biennale promoted deterritorialization, featuring Louise Bourgeois in the US pavilion, Joseph Kosuth in the Hungarian pavilion, and Ilya Kabakov in the Israeli pavilion. Despite recognizing new nations from the former communist bloc, the Biennale continued to confine Asian and African countries to the basement of the central pavilion, deeming them too small and poor for their own pavilions.

Key facts

  • The 1993 Venice Biennale preached deterritorialization.
  • Louise Bourgeois exhibited in the US pavilion.
  • Joseph Kosuth exhibited in the Hungarian pavilion.
  • Ilya Kabakov exhibited in the Israeli pavilion.
  • New nations from the former communist bloc were recognized.
  • Asian and African countries were confined to the basement of the central pavilion.
  • These countries were considered too small and poor for their own pavilions.

Entities

Artists

  • Louise Bourgeois
  • Joseph Kosuth
  • Ilya Kabakov

Institutions

  • Venice Biennale

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy

Sources