Jan Švankmajer, "The Garden," 1968. 35 mm film, 16'. Courtesy Jan Švankmajer.

Danish Pavilion

55th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia

SPEECH MATTERS

The Danish Pavilion
54th International Art Exhibition
La Biennale di Venezia

Professional Preview Opening:
Thursday, 2 June 2011, at 15:30
Giardini
Duration of exhibition 4 June–27 November 2011

www.danish-pavilion.org

For the 54th Venice Biennale, the Danish Pavilion will host an international group exhibition, curated by Katerina Gregos, which will explore the very timely and complex issue of freedom of speech. The question of freedom of speech is one that is being increasingly contested in light of transformations taking place globally, both in authoritarian regimes and in liberal democracies, where civil liberties seem to be increasingly under threat. Apart from the fact that it relates to Denmark specifically, it is also highly relevant in relation to much of what is happening in many countries in the world today, from: press intimidation and censorship in Russia and elsewhere; to Google's recent episode in China; current events in North Africa; changes to media law in Hungary; the WikiLeaks scandal; and other factors such as increased surveillance in the UK and the USA, and highly charged debates about the limits of freedom of speech in several European countries, such as the Netherlands. The notions of freedom of speech and freedom of expression also impact upon, and are interrelated with, other areas such as the freedom of the press, censorship and self-censorship, the internet, copyright, intellectual property, the privatisation of knowledge, protest and public order, public space, judicial and legal questions, pornography, sexual orientation, lifestyle preferences, and human rights issues in general. It is important to point out that the understanding of 'freedom of speech,' in this context is not only in relation to the spoken word per se but also to inextricably interrelated issues of freedom of artistic expression. The exhibition in the Danish Pavilion aims to complicate the issue of freedom of speech, which seems, increasingly, to be used as an empty political slogan that is subjected to a very simplified, biased and populist debate. Denmark has a longstanding reputation of freedom of speech and freedom of press. It has always been at the forefront of the public debate on a number of progressive issues in relation to freedom of speech; but it has also suffered the so-called 'trauma of free speech,' making it even more appropriate to use the Danish Pavilion as a springboard from which to discuss these issues.

SPEECH MATTERS features 18 international artists of different generations from 12 countries. 13 new installations and works have been commissioned specially for the exhibition

Participating artists: Agency (International, est. 1992) – Ayreen Anastas & Rene Gabri (Palestine & Iran) – Robert Crumb (USA, 1943) – Stelios Faitakis (Greece, 1976) – FOS (Denmark, 1971) – Sharon Hayes (USA, 1970) – Han Hoogerbrugge (the Netherlands, 1963) – Mikhail Karikis (Greece, 1975) – Thomas Kilpper (Germany, 1956) – Runo Lagomarsino (Argentina/Sweden, 1977) – Tala Madani (Iran, 1981) – Wendelien van Oldenborgh (the Netherlands, 1962) – Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen (Denmark, 1970) – Taryn Simon (USA, 1975) – Jan Švankmajer (Czech Republic, 1934) – Johannes af Tavsheden – Tilman Wendland (Germany, 1969) – Zhang Dali (China, 1963).
Curator: Katerina Gregos

Works Extra Muros:
Apart from the works exhibited inside the Danish Pavilion, three of the artists will create large outdoor commissions. The German artist Thomas Kilpper has constructed a Pavilion for Revolutionary Free Speech, built in, and beyond, the private garden of the Danish Pavilion. The structure will also host Speakers' Corner, an open balcony and public podium where a series of specially commissioned language-based performances and speech acts on the subject of free speech will take place during the opening days and after. On the façade of the Danish Pavilion, the Greek artist Stelios Faitakis has realised Imposition Symphony, an ambitious large-scale mural in six chapters whose main narrative revolves around six episodes all relating to questions of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, censorship and oppression, from a contemporary as well as historical perspective.

Finally, the Danish Pavilion will extend its presence outside the Giardini and in the public urban fabric of Venice itself, through the work of the Danish artist FOS, who will realize Osloo—a floating Pavilion, which incorporates a bar, a radio station and a stage for concerts, talks, and lectures. Entrance to Osloo is free for the public and a daily programme is offered throughout the first month of the Biennale. See: www.olsoo.dk and www.danish-pavilion.org

The Catalogue:
The exhibition catalogue will be designed and produced by Mousse. It will feature contributions by Katerina Gregos, Christopher Hitchens, Antonio Negri, and Raoul Vainegem.

The Commissioner:
The Danish Arts Council Committee for International Visual Arts serves as Commissioner for the Danish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, where Denmark has taken part since 1895.

Press Contacts

For Danish Press:
Marianne Strøm Hansen, The Danish Arts Council
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 2, DK-1553 Copenhagen V
E: stroem@kunst.dk / T: +45 21452440

For International Press:
Judith Eckstein, Goldmann Public Relations
Bruderstr. 5, D-80538 Munich, Germany,
E: jeckstein@goldmannpr.de / T: +49 (0) 89 21116422

Further info: www.danish-pavilion.org

The project is funded by the Danish Arts Council.

SPEECH MATTERS has received generous additional support from Messieurs Spyros & Philip Niarchos, Beckett-Fonden, Montana, The Flemish Government Agency for Arts and Heritage, Mondriaan Foundation, Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e.V, Vidisquare, and Basedesign.

Individual artist presentations in SPEECH MATTERS have been supported by Andersen's Contemporary, Copenhagen; The Breeder, Athens; Pilar Corrias Gallery, London; Culture Programme of the European Union; dispari&dispari projects, Reggio Emilia; DSV; Gagosian Gallery; Nonino Distillatori; Hammerthor; Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London; If I Can't Dance, I Don't Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution, Amsterdam; Kvadrat; Landeshauptstadt München Kulturreferat; Wilfried Lentz Gallery, Rotterdam; Lombard-Freid Projects, New York; Montana; Galerie Christian Nagel, Cologne/Berlin; Nastro Azzurro; Messieurs Spyros & Philip Niarchos; Almine Rech Gallery Paris/Brus¬sels; Salong; Showroom, London; Max Wigram Gallery, London.