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.
Albert Serra is representing Catalonia as a collateral event. The pavilion is at the Cantieri Cavali, Castello, 40 (Calle Quintavalle).
What can you tell us about your exhibition plans for Venice?
I am still shooting it and there will be a long and complex work of edit… so it’s very difficult to talk about that now. The concept is subtle and original, people will enjoy the piece a lot.
Are you approaching this show in a different way as to how you would a ‘normal’ exhibition?
No, for me it’s always the same: concentration and precision on the images I am creating.
What does it mean to ‘represent’ your country? Do you find it an honour or problematic?
It’s an honour for me but also it’s and honour for the country I hope. There is no other way to face this kind of projects.
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 care about all these things as I only believe in long-term success.
What are your earliest or best memories of the biennale?
I have no personal memories at all as it will be my first time there, not only in the biennale but also in the city. As I was completely obsessed with the city for its literary heritage (Casanova, Proust, Pound, Brodsky, Mann, etc.) I always declined to visit it (and I have travelled a lot in my life). I wanted to keep it pure, like a virginal dream, and reality is always a dirty nightmare.
You’ll no doubt be very busy, but what else are you looking forward to seeing?
The city and other artists I admire.
How does a having a pavilion in Venice affect the art scene in your home country?
Sadly it’s more important in the media than in the artistic daily life of Barcelona. The works like mine don’t have concrete influence, they are just inspiring and inimitable.
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 6 May 2015.
