ArtReview sent a questionnaire to artists and curators exhibiting in and curating the various national pavilions of the 2015 Venice Biennale, the responses to which will be published daily in the lead-up to the Venice Biennale opening.
Heimo Zobernig is representing Austria. The Pavilion is in the Giardini.
What can you tell us about your exhibition plans for Venice?
For Venice I am planning work related to architecture. A work that responds directly to the pavilion.
Are you approaching this show in a different way as to how you would a ‘normal’ exhibition?
Each room, each institution has a special feature and structure. My approach to an exhibition in a gallery differs from an exhibition in a museum.
What does it mean to ‘represent’ your country? Do you find it an honour or problematic?
I am representing firstly the country of art – if there is freedom to my decision. If that’s not the case, the situation is quite problematic.
How are you approaching the different audiences who come to Venice – the masses of artist peers, gallerists, curators and critics concentrated around the opening and the general public who come through over the following months?
I don’t distinguish between my audiences. Everybody is naturally invited to see my work.
What are your earliest or best memories of the biennale?
In 1972 I saw Hans Hollein and Oswald Oberhuber in the Austrian pavilion, I was very young. Then in 1980 the first “Aperto” by Harald Szeemann.
You’ll no doubt be very busy, but what else are you looking forward to seeing?
I will see everything.
How does a having a pavilion in Venice affect the art scene in your home country?
I underestimated how big the social aspect is.
Read all responses to the Venice Questionnaire 2015 edition published so far
Read all 30 responses to the Venice Questionnaire 2013 edition
Online exclusive published on 25 April 2015.
