Dries Verhoeven and Rieke Vos Present 'The Fortress' at Venice Biennale

At the Venice Biennale, artist Dries Verhoeven and curator Rieke Vos have created 'The Fortress,' a performance-installation in the Dutch pavilion that critiques Western privilege and self-preservation. The work features shutters that gradually darken the Rietveld-designed pavilion over 25 minutes, while a performer emits guttural sounds (grunting) to unsettle visitors. The piece responds to the biennale's contradictions: a global art event on a sinking island, with over 25 pavilions closing in protest of Israel's participation. Verhoeven and Vos allow multiple performers—including Melyn Chow, Diane Mahin, Jana Jacuka, and Maarten Heijnens—to interpret the role, adding individual nuances. The darkness, intended to evoke claustrophobia, instead brought the author a sense of safety, stripping away markers of status like designer clothes and decorum. A related essay by Maurits de Bruijn, 'Wat het daglicht niet kan verdragen,' was published by the Mondriaan Fonds and Jap Sam Books. The work is described as a 'loud No' that forces privileged visitors to turn inward, momentarily aligning geopolitical tragedy with immediate experience.