Krzysztof Wodiczko's 'Guests' Projection at 2009 Venice Biennale Polish Pavilion
In 2009, Krzysztof Wodiczko showcased his video installation 'Guests' at the Polish Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. This work displayed hazy visuals of immigrant laborers across eight windows and a skylight, featuring individuals such as a Lebanese intellectual and Chechen refugees as they shared their experiences. Wodiczko collected insights through interviews conducted in Rome and Warsaw, focusing on themes of social exclusion and EU immigration policies. The piece drew on previous works like 'Alien Staff' (1992) and 'Mouthpiece' (1993). Influenced by thinkers such as John Berger, Immanuel Kant, and Julia Kristeva, the audio component included discussions on deportations. Critics, including Rosalyn Deutsche, examined the ethical implications of Wodiczko's work, prompting reflections on Europe's immigrant relations.
Key facts
- Krzysztof Wodiczko created 'Guests' for the Polish Pavilion at the 2009 Venice Biennale
- The installation projected blurry images of immigrant workers onto windows and a skylight
- Wodiczko interviewed immigrants in Rome and Warsaw to gather material for the work
- The projection featured migrants including Lebanese intellectuals, Vietnamese poets, and Chechen refugees
- Audio elements included conversations about deportations, refugee camps, and residence permits
- The work referenced Wodiczko's earlier projects like 'Alien Staff' (1992) and 'If You See Something...' (2005)
- Philosophical influences included John Berger, Immanuel Kant, Julia Kristeva, and Giorgio Agamben
- The installation created ambiguous visibility between viewers inside and immigrant figures outside
Entities
Artists
- Krzysztof Wodiczko
- Bożena Czubak
- Marcin Wawrzyńczak
- John Berger
- Immanuel Kant
- Julia Kristeva
- Giorgio Agamben
- Hans Belting
- Rosalyn Deutsche
- Piotr Piotrowski
- Zygmunt Bauman
- Étienne Balibar
- Jacques Derrida
Institutions
- Polish Pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- ARTMargins Online
- Galerie Lelong
- Zachęta National Gallery of Art
- Charta Books LTD
- Kunstmuseum Basel
- Exit Art
- Clark Art Institute
- Yale University Press
- Stanford University Press
- Penguin
- Columbia University Press
- Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Poznaniu
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Warsaw
- Poland
- Rome
- New York City
- United States
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Hiroshima
- Japan
- Denver
- Tijuana
- Mexico
- Poznań
- Cracow
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Edinburgh
- Palo Alto
- Cambridge
- Nijmegen
- Netherlands