Catalonia's Biennale Pavilion Explores Iconoclasm and Public Statuary
Curated by Pedro Azara, the Catalan pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale showcases 'Catalonia in Venice—To Lose Your Head (Idols),' a project focused on the influence of public statues. It includes four notable figures: Porcioles by Joan Brossa, Lluís Companys by Francisco López, statues from Tarragona's Holy Week, and a Francoist monument by Genaro Iglesias. Archival resources illustrate 20th-century Catalan sculptures. Azara points out the vandalism of Companys statues, underscoring their continued significance. Architect Tiziano Schürch designed an installation that mimics the damaged monument storage in Barcelona. A performance by Marcel Borrás featured actress Marta Aguilar as a 'living statue.' A vending machine allows for the adoration or destruction of artifacts, while Albert García-Alzórriz's video 'EYES/EYES/EYES/EYES' explores monument fragmentation, accompanied by an artist book discussing iconodulia, iconolatry, and iconoclasm.
Key facts
- First time in six years the Catalan pavilion presents a research project instead of a single artist.
- Curated by Pedro Azara, professor of aesthetics at the Technical University of Barcelona.
- Exhibition features four statues: Porcioles by Joan Brossa, Monument to Lluís Companys by Francisco López, Tarragona Holy Week procession statues, and monument to the fallen by Genaro Iglesias.
- Archival materials document a dozen 20th-century Catalan statues that have been idolized or destroyed.
- Installation designed by architect Tiziano Schürch inspired by Barcelona's municipal storage for damaged monuments.
- Performance by Marcel Borrás featured actress Marta Aguilar as a 'living statue' in Venetian streets.
- Audiences could spray-paint the living statue; a vending machine provided artifacts for adoration or destruction.
- Artist book includes contributions by Perejaume, Francesc Torres, David Bestué, Lúa Coderch, Lola Lasurt, and Daniela Ortiz.
Entities
Artists
- Pedro Azara
- Joan Brossa
- Francisco López
- Genaro Iglesias
- Marcel Borrás
- Marta Aguilar
- Albert García-Alzórriz
- Perejaume
- Francesc Torres
- David Bestué
- Lúa Coderch
- Lola Lasurt
- Daniela Ortiz
- Tiziano Schürch
Institutions
- Technical University of Barcelona
- Institut Ramon Llull
- Tenov Editorial
- Artribune
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Catalonia
- Spain
- Barcelona
- Tarragona
- Baghdad
- Iraq
- Tell Massaikh
- Syria
- Qasr Shemamok
- Naples
- Germany
- Russia