Guillaume, Stéphanie and Eric celebrate Luxembourg’s art in Venice

It’s like stepping into another world, an immersive journey that you can experience with all your senses: The Luxembourg pavilion at this year’s Venice Art Biennale is already attracting everyone’s attention thanks to its futuristic aesthetics. And when the leading information source for the international art market “artnet” Luxembourg’s contribution is also among the seven most outstanding pavilions lists, it is hardly surprising that the joint project by the Luxembourg artist Andrea Mancini and the Brussels collective Every Island is so well attended. Could one sense a chance of winning a Golden Lion?

Late on Thursday afternoon, the Luxembourg pavilion entitled “A Comparative Dialogue Act” was officially opened in the Sale d’armi on the grounds of the Arsenale by Culture Minister Eric Thill (DP). Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie also didn’t miss the celebratory opening. As well as lots of well-known faces from the Luxembourg culture and art scene, including Filip Markiewicz, Paul di Felice and first government councilor in the Ministry of Culture Jo Kox, who will soon be replaced by Carl Adalsteinsson.

After a speech by the Minister of Culture and the Mudam director Bettina Steinbrügge, whose museum for modern art in Kirchberg is responsible for this year’s Luxembourg contribution, the visitors received their first impressions of the immersive sound installation – including an expressive live performance by the Turkish artist Selin Davasse .

An installation for all senses

As soon as you enter the pavilion, which is separated from the rest of the hall by metal-colored, slightly shimmering curtains and consists of a metal platform, it quickly becomes clear that this is not a finished work of art, but a “work in progress”. acts. Scattered throughout the pavilion are installations made of glass, metal rods, tires and some type of hoses and cables. Messages, symbols as well as information and explanations about the project, such as “Artist Loop Every 160’”, have been engraved into the floor, which occasionally vibrates and allows visitors to become part of the installation. This isn’t just about the visual. Rather, you have to listen carefully and feel the installation, feel it and let it work on you.

“A Comparative Dialogue Act” relies on the participation of four other artists who have created a sound library especially for the Luxembourg pavilion. Bella Báguena, Selin Davasse, Célin Jiang and Stina Fors will also perform various performances in the pavilion during the Biennale. This creates a very special sound landscape, the final result of which will probably only be seen in a few months.

In any case, the collective idea of ​​the Luxembourg pavilion, which is curated by Joel Valabrega, is strongly present and therefore fits perfectly with this year’s Biennale theme “Foreigners Everywhere”, which deals with topics such as migration, escape, but also cohesion.

Eric Thill in a short interview

The Minister of Culture was also impressed by the Luxembourg pavilion. Eric Thill, who visited Venice and the Art Biennale for the first time on Thursday – however, it was not the new minister’s first appearance abroad – simply finds it “nice” to see that Luxembourg’s contribution has been rated so well internationally so far. He confirmed to the “Luxemburger Wort” that the theme of the 2024 Biennale is of course particularly important for a multicultural country like the Grand Duchy.

“We live this in everyday life. You notice it in our society, in our culture and art scene, which is particularly diverse and diverse. This diversity is a great advantage of our country and our art. And the Luxembourg pavilion also reflects this.”

According to Culture Minister Eric Thill, the fact that the artist Ruth Patir has decided not to open the Israeli pavilion for the time being in view of the Gaza war is a decision that must be absolutely respected. “The decision not to say anything sometimes says more than the best discourse. There’s a very clear message behind it.”

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Eric Thill further emphasized that culture, and therefore art, has the power to create dialogue and to look for solutions together.

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The art biennale can be visited until November 24th. Further information and maps are available at www.labiennale.org.