Venice Biennale

The whole world in the cosmos of art

The American pavilion is colorful.

(Bild: Franziska Trost)

More than 80 countries are represented at the art biennale, almost the whole world gathered in one place. Far too many pavilions to present them all. Here is a short "Krone" tour of some of the most interesting ones. The Austria pavilion was also officially opened on Thursday - with a strong appeal from the artist.

It is only a few steps from Israel to Iran, from China to the USA, from South Korea to Australia. . The world is moving closer together at the 60th Biennale Arte in Venice, which officially opens its doors tomorrow. With all its conflicts, which also provide fuel for discussion in this small cosmos of art.

Because, of course, the big world cannot be ignored in the small world of Venice. On the contrary - the art biennale has always been highly politically charged. Especially in the national pavilions, which stretch from the Giardini to the Arsenale right across the city. Here is a brief overview of the most interesting ones: 

This year, special attention is being paid to the Israeli pavilion, whose doors remain closed. In protest against the war, the artist Ruth Patir decided not to show her works until there is a ceasefire and the hostages are released. Heavily armed soldiers in front of the locked pavilion are now reflected in the dark panes of glass like the bitter reality. 

Apocalyptic ride into space
Israeli art is nevertheless represented - in the German Pavilion, in front of which people were already queuing for hundreds of meters during the preview days. Here, Berlin-based Israeli artist Yael Bartana elaborately stages a world of destruction, where doom seems imminent - she saves humanity in a generational spaceship. This apocalyptic ride into space can only be reached via the side entrance - Turkish-born director Ersan Mondtag has filled the ostentatious Nazi main portal of the "Germania" pavilion with earth from his grandfather's home town. 

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The sound of tanks and mortar shells
Of course, the war in Ukraine also finds its way into this cosmos of art. The Poles have made their pavilion available to the Open Group collective, which has Ukrainian refugees imitate the sound of the attacks in a video - the rolling and thundering of tanks and mortar shells. Like a karaoke of darkness, visitors are asked to imitate the sounds with microphones. 

Ukraine itself also deals with everyday life during the war in its pavilion. Among other things with postcards to the front full of positive wishes.  Russia, on the other hand, is not even taking part and has instead left its pavilion to Bolivia "in the spirit of friendship".

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Indigenous art in focus 
As in the main exhibition, indigenous art is also the focus in many pavilions. For example, in the Brazilian pavilion, which has been renamed Hãhãwpuá, the original indigenous name of the country. The American pavilion, which is being presented by a Native American artist for the first time, shines in all colors from the outside: Jeffrey Gibson's colorful, cheerful-looking paintings and sculptures nevertheless conceal the anger and grief of his oppressed ancestors.  

Denmark is represented by an Inuit artist: Inuuteq Storch presents an atmospherically strong kaleidoscope of photos from Greenland.

Among the British, filmmaker John Akomfrah reflects the painful history of slavery, racism and colonialism in his elaborate video works. 

And the ÖVP would probably enjoy the Philippine pavilion - here, brass band music is held up as the "leading culture" - just in the tradition of the rainforest instead of in a beer tent . . .

Putin, get the hell out of Ukraine!
The Austrian pavilion was also officially opened on Thursday by Federal President Alexander van der Bellen. With a strong message from Russian-born artist Anna Jermolaewa and choreographer Oksana Serheieva, who fled Ukraine.

Federal President van der Bellen opened the Austria Pavilion in the company of his wife and curator Gabriele Spindler, choreographer Oksana Serheieva, Anna Jermolaewa and State Secretary Andrea Mayer.

(Bild: zvg)

A delegation from Upper Austria, including Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) and Capital of Culture Director Elisabeth Schweeger, also traveled to the pavilion in a "gondola of the Alps".

(Bild: Peter C. Mayr)

By working on this year's political and poetic piece "Rehearsal for Swan Lake", "we are raising our voices of protest together to say to Putin: Your time is up. Get the hell out of Ukraine!" said Yermolaeva in an emotional speech.