Bill Culbert to Represent New Zealand at Venice Biennale with Light Installations

Bill Culbert will represent New Zealand at the Venice Biennale, creating an installation in eight connected spaces at Istituto Santa Maria della Pietà near the lagoon. His work will incorporate fluorescent light tubes and domestic furniture, which serve as both obstructions and conduits for illumination. Culbert describes this juxtaposition as iconoclastic within the historic, church-like atmosphere of the venue. He aims to introduce energy and simplicity, celebrating natural phenomena through his art. The artist emphasizes that subtlety, not scale or cost, will define the work's impact. He views the invitation as an honor but stresses that the art must speak for itself, independent of national representation. Culbert's earliest memory of the Biennale dates to the late 1950s, when he visited as a daytripper from Canterbury School of Fine Arts, finding the event overwhelmingly impressive. The installation is intended for all interested visitors, with the hope of engaging even those initially uninterested. ArtReview conducted the interview as part of a series featuring artists from various national pavilions.