Valentin Carron Discusses Swiss Pavilion at Venice Biennale with New Works

Valentin Carron is set to unveil new creations at the Swiss Pavilion during the Venice Biennale, building on a series he has been crafting over the last two years. Featured in the exhibition are a two-headed serpent, replicas of stained glass windows, bronze-cast flattened instruments, and a refurbished Piaggio Ciao. Carron aims to accentuate the modernist design of the pavilion, conceived by Bruno Giacometti, rather than overshadow it. He approaches this exhibition with the same dedication as any other, asserting that all venues hold equal value, like a gallery in the Ruhr region. Carron sees his presence as a six-month occupation of the space, not as a representation of Switzerland, which he feels is already embodied by the pavilion. He targets a diverse audience aged 7 to 77, akin to the appeal of Walt Disney films. He fondly recalls arriving at Santa Lucia train station at dawn as a memorable moment associated with the biennale. While in Venice, he looks forward to enjoying virgin pina coladas at Harry's Bar and exploring the Naval History Museum in the Arsenale. This questionnaire was conducted by ArtReview as part of a series featuring artists from different national pavilions.