Florentina Holzinger and Dries Verhoeven to Represent Austria and Netherlands at Venice Biennale

Florentina Holzinger, a choreographer recognized for incorporating blood, urine, and feces into her art, will represent Austria at the Venice Biennale in 2026. Her notable works, such as the opera 'Sancta' featuring roller-skating nuns, have been likened to the creations of Hermann Nitsch and the Viennese Actionists. The German publication Die Zeit has dubbed her 'Europe’s Most Radical Artist.' In contrast, Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven will showcase 'The Fortress,' marking the first performance art presentation for the Netherlands at the Biennale. This work, a vocal and architectural intervention within the Gerrit Rietveld-designed pavilion, will be experienced by a limited audience in a dark, bunker-like environment, focusing on themes of discomfort and self-preservation. The article also reflects on performance art's historical shock value, tracing back to Cabaret Voltaire in 1916 and its evolution through the 1970s, alongside the contemporary shift towards themes of care and healing.