Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz's 'Moving Backwards' Installation for Swiss Pavilion at 2019 Venice Biennale

Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz will represent Switzerland at the 2019 Venice Biennale with their installation 'Moving Backwards,' described as an 'abstract club' where visitors enter from backstage. The artists, one German and one Bulgarian-Swiss, responded to ArtReview's questionnaire about their participation. Their work addresses feelings of being pushed backwards by recent political backlash, referencing ultra-conservative politics in Switzerland, Germany, and other European countries. The Swiss Pavilion is located in the Giardini. When asked about representing their country, they noted their mixed nationalities. They expressed ambivalence about the national pavilion system, comparing it to sports that invite competition and nationalism. The artists recalled positive memories from previous Biennales, including Dora Garcia's Spanish pavilion 'The Inadequate' in 2011, the Belgian pavilion 'Personne et les Autres' in 2015 referencing Belgian colonial history, Charles Atlas's video installation at the last Biennale, and Elmgreen & Dragset's 2009 presentation. They look forward to new encounters with unexpected work at the 2019 edition. The Venice Biennale runs from 11 May to 24 November 2019.