Venice Biennale 2011: National Pavilions Blend Dreams, Dread, and Political Metaphor
The 2011 Venice Biennale featured national pavilions that delved into the concepts of laughter, dreams, and tears. The Austrian pavilion, curated by Markus Schinwald, presented portraits altered with prosthetic straps. Luxembourg's pavilion, titled "Cercle fermé" by Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil, showcased a perplexing white palace. Tabaimo's Japanese pavilion, "Teleco-soup," incorporated projections and mirrors, while Steven Shearer's Canadian pavilion transformed death metal lyrics into concrete poetry. Sigalit Landau's Israeli pavilion, "One Man's Floor Is Another Man's Feeling," explored geopolitical themes with salt-crystallized items. Christian Boltanski's French pavilion, named "Chance," contrasted birth and death statistics. Karla Black's Scottish pavilion exhibited pastel marble dust. At the Emily Harvey Foundation, Harold Ancart and Esther Kläs presented "Rise, Rose, Risen." Awards were given to Sigalit Landau for best national participation and Christian Marclay for best artist.
Key facts
- Markus Schinwald's Austrian pavilion featured portraits with prosthetic straps.
- Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil created a disorienting white palace for Luxembourg.
- Tabaimo's Japanese pavilion used projections and mirrors to invert perspectives.
- Steven Shearer's Canadian pavilion displayed death metal lyrics as poetry.
- Sigalit Landau's Israeli pavilion used water from the lagoon and salt-crystallized objects.
- Christian Boltanski's French pavilion featured a printing press with baby photos and a bell.
- Karla Black's Scottish pavilion used pastel marble dust, plaster, and cellophane.
- Harold Ancart and Esther Kläs exhibited at the Emily Harvey Foundation.
- The author's hypothetical awards included Sigalit Landau for best national participation.
- Christian Marclay was cited for best artist for 'The Clock'.
- Andro Wekua was cited for best young artist for 'Pink Wave Hunter'.
- Special mentions were given to Markus Schinwald and Melanie Smith.
- Lifetime achievement lions were proposed for Guy de Cointet and Sturtevant.
Entities
Artists
- Markus Schinwald
- Martine Feipel
- Jean Bechameil
- Tabaimo
- Steven Shearer
- Sigalit Landau
- Christian Boltanski
- Karla Black
- Harold Ancart
- Esther Kläs
- Christian Marclay
- Andro Wekua
- Melanie Smith
- Guy de Cointet
- Sturtevant
- Olivier Babin
Institutions
- Austrian Pavilion
- Luxembourg Pavilion
- Japanese Pavilion
- Canadian Pavilion
- Israeli Pavilion
- French Pavilion
- Scottish Pavilion
- Emily Harvey Foundation
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Gaza
- Israel
- Jordan
- Dead Sea
- Gdansk
- Poland
- New York
- United States
Sources
- artpress —