Sung Tieu on Representing Germany at the 61st Venice Biennale
Sung Tieu, representing Germany alongside Henrike Naumann at the 61st Venice Biennale, cites her mother and childhood home as inspirations. Her work relates to the Biennale theme 'In Minor Keys' through the site Gehrenseestrasse, a former GDR labor camp turned diaspora refuge. Tieu questions the importance of the Venice Biennale but asserts that as long as the German Pavilion remains fascist architecture, artists will work against it. She views national pavilions as revealing the work needed to undo nationalism. The Biennale runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026 in the Giardini.
Key facts
- Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann represent Germany at the 61st Venice Biennale.
- The German Pavilion is located in the Giardini.
- Tieu's inspiration comes from her mother and childhood home.
- Her work engages with the Biennale theme 'In Minor Keys' via Gehrenseestrasse.
- Gehrenseestrasse was built for foreign contract workers and GDR labor needs.
- Tieu calls the German Pavilion 'fascist architecture'.
- She believes national pavilions expose the work needed to undo nationalism.
- The 61st Venice Biennale runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Sung Tieu
- Henrike Naumann
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Versace
- German Pavilion
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Gehrenseestrasse
- Isola di San Michele
- Lazzaretto Nuovo
- Burano
- Burano's Lace Museum