After Erwin Wurm’s big success in Venice back in 2011 (remember the Narrow House?) we were very curious to find out what his contribution will be for VIVA ARTE VIVA – Venice Biennale 2017 together with Brigitte Kowanz. On May 12th, 2017 the Austrian Cultural Minister Thomas Drozda inaugurated the Austrian Pavilion at the 57th Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte in Venice, Italy.
The concept for this years Austrian Pavilion envisages two internationally successful Austrian artists: Erwin Wurm and Brigitte Kowanz. Both are state prize winners, who have had numerous solo exhibitions in the most important art centres from Paris to New York. Their art works can be found in important museum collections and private collections. Over the last decades, both have played an important role in shaping Austria’s contribution to international trends.
Erwin Wurm has extended the concept of sculpture in terms of materiality. He has given an essential impulse to the performative turn– the transformation of art objects into forms of action and the extension of sculpture into media. Wurm creates sculpture performances, sculpture installations, spatial sculptures and architecture sculptures. In his work, sculpture becomes architecture, action and medial notation.
Wurm and Kowanz are connected by their interest in the relationship between image/sculpture and architecture. Using her light installations, Kowanz has redefined public space and architecture in an immaterial manner.
Through her light work, Brigitte Kowanz has extended the concept of image in terms of immateriality. She makes light objects, light installations, light spaces and light architecture.
The work of the two artists show that everyone is capable of contributing to tradition in their own way and bringing about convincing artistic surprises. Kowanz and Wurm work at the front line of international avant-garde movements: they have extended sculpture and imagery into architecture and public participation.
Hope to meet you in Venice this summer!
LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA
57th International Art Exhibition
May 13th – November 26th, 2017
www.labiennale.org
Images: labiennale2017.at