Jiří David Discusses Czech-Slovak Pavilion at 2015 Venice Biennale

Jiří David will represent the Czech and Slovak Republic at the 2015 Venice Biennale, with his pavilion located in the Giardini. His exhibition aims to explore concepts like nation, home, identity, and collective memory through a site-specific installation. David emphasizes creating an emotional experience rather than a dry intellectual exercise, avoiding typical paintings, objects, photos, videos, or texts. He notes that contemporary art receives little public or political attention in the Czech Republic, which he describes as a cultural outdoor museum for tourists. Despite this, he believes Czech art is comparable internationally, though Western cultural contexts often fail to adopt it. David was selected by an international committee, marking the first time such a panel chose the winner, and he expresses surprise at their unanimous decision. He recalls his first Venice Biennale experience in 1991 at Aperto, where he exhibited near Jeff Koons. The artist is collaborating with curator Katarina Rusnakova and colleagues, hoping for sunny weather and a sense of accomplishment. David focuses on audiences with sensitivity to his message, regardless of their professional status, and acknowledges mixed reactions from the local art community regarding the biennale's impact.