There are few places in the world where art and national identity are as intertwined as at the Venice Biennale. It remains unique, not only because it is the oldest international art exhibition and takes place in such an extraordinary setting, but because its collection of national pavilions encourages pluralism, diversity, and the surprising. Set within the beautiful Giardini, the pavilions proclaim their origins with an exaggerated air of national stereotyping. Andrea Rose shows how these distinctive buildings have lent piquancy and purpose to the art shown in them, from Mondrian in the limpid Dutch Pavilion (designed by Rietveld in 1953) to Hans Haake in the German Pavilion (built in 1938 by Ernst Haiger, one of Hitler’s favourite architects) where the artist exhibited his critique of national history by breaking up the floor. The Biennale has seen huge changes from its first edition in 1895. From its beginnings as an association of western nations to its position as a global phenomenon today, this talk looks at how the Biennale has evolved, the many struggles along the way, and its significance in an increasingly polarized world.
Andrea Rose was Director of Visual Arts and Strategic Programmes at the British Council from 1994-2014. During this period she was responsible for Britain’s representation at Venice Biennale, commissioning and curating exhibitions by Leon Kossoff, Rachel Whiteread, Gary Hume, Chris Ofili, Tracey Emin, Gilbert & George, Steve McQueen, Mark Wallinger, Jeremy Deller and Sarah Lucas among others. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Burlington Magazine, Deputy Chair of Koestler Arts and a Trustee of Modern Art Press. Andrea has written widely on British art and most recently compiled the Catalogue Raisonné of Leon Kossoff’s Oil Paintings (Sept. 2021, Modern Art Press).
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