Artribune's Top National Pavilions at the 2019 Venice Biennale
Artribune selected the best national pavilions at the 2019 Venice Biennale, themed 'May You Live in Interesting Times' curated by Ralph Rugoff. The top pavilions are Great Britain (Cathy Wilkes), Australia (Angelica Mesiti), Switzerland (Pauline Boudry / Renate Lorenz), Russia (Aleksander Sokurov / Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai), and France (Laure Prouvost). Honorable mentions include Albania (Driant Zeneli) and Brazil (Bárbara Wagner / Benjamin de Burca). Wilkes's installation at the British Pavilion explores absence and intimacy through sculptures and paintings. Mesiti's three-channel video 'Assembly' in the Australian Pavilion uses music and performance to reflect on community and power. Boudry and Lorenz's 'Moving Backwards' at the Swiss Pavilion critiques societal regression with disco aesthetics. The Russian Pavilion, curated by the State Hermitage Museum, features a theatrical installation inspired by Rembrandt's 'The Return of the Prodigal Son'. Prouvost's French Pavilion offers a comprehensive experience with installation, performance, and film, subverting topography and exploring introspection.
Key facts
- The 2019 Venice Biennale theme is 'May You Live in Interesting Times' curated by Ralph Rugoff.
- Artribune selected Great Britain, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, and France as the best national pavilions.
- Honorable mentions include Albania (Driant Zeneli) and Brazil (Bárbara Wagner / Benjamin de Burca).
- Cathy Wilkes represents Great Britain with an installation on absence and intimacy.
- Angelica Mesiti's 'Assembly' is a three-channel video installation for Australia.
- Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz's 'Moving Backwards' critiques societal regression.
- The Russian Pavilion is curated by the State Hermitage Museum and features Aleksander Sokurov and Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai.
- Laure Prouvost's French Pavilion includes installation, performance, and a film about a journey from Paris to the Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Ralph Rugoff
- Cathy Wilkes
- Angelica Mesiti
- Pauline Boudry
- Renate Lorenz
- Aleksander Sokurov
- Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai
- Laure Prouvost
- Driant Zeneli
- Bárbara Wagner
- Benjamin de Burca
- Rembrandt
Institutions
- Artribune
- Biennale di Venezia
- State Hermitage Museum
- British Pavilion
- Australian Pavilion
- Swiss Pavilion
- Russian Pavilion
- French Pavilion
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Great Britain
- Australia
- Switzerland
- Russia
- France
- Albania
- Brazil
- Bulqize
- Recife
- Paris
- San Pietroburgo