Fiona Hall to Represent Australia at 2015 Venice Biennale with Installation on Global Conflict, Finance, and Climate

Fiona Hall will represent Australia at the 2015 Venice Biennale with a large-scale installation in the country's new pavilion located in the Giardini. The work addresses interconnected themes of global conflict, financial systems, and environmental decline due to climate change, aiming to forge conceptual links rather than present a gloomy perspective. Hall received the invitation 18 months prior and notes this marks her first solo exhibition in such a vast space, differing from her previous shows by functioning as a single multifaceted installation rather than separate pieces. She views the Venice Biennale as a unique platform where artists are selected by their nations, involving both art politics and nationalism. Hall anticipates diverse audiences, including art professionals and the general public, and sees the event as an opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue on contemporary issues. Her only prior Biennale experience was the 2013 edition, where she particularly admired the curated exhibition The Encyclopedic Palace in the Arsenale. She looks forward to seeing Joan Jonas's installation, having previously exhibited alongside her at Documenta in Kassel. Hall believes the new Australian pavilion will significantly impact the country's art scene, serving as a prestigious venue for future artists and architects.