National Identity and Representation - The Conflict of the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Abstract

Since the reconstruction of the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1938 under the influence of Nazi ideals, the building's appearance remains almost unchanged. Its unmistakable architecture permanently links the pavilion to Germany's dark past. This thesis analyses and discusses the complicated relationship between the pavilion and the art displayed within. By doing so, it takes a closer look at the exhibitions that interact with the country’s history, focusing particularly on the theme of deformation and violence of the architecture, a recurring motif since the 1970s. Using the publications of the German Federal Foreign Office, as well as the various exhibition catalogues, the objective is to obtain a clear overview of the controversial origin of the building and to understand the continuous desire the artists feel, to directly interact with the architecture. Additionally, an extensive overview of the exhibit's reception should be obtained through the collection and analysis of the appropriate critiques and press reviews of the relevant Biennales. Finally, the complicated relationship between the historic building and the representation of the national identity of modern-day Germany will be studied. This should lead to a better understanding of the need for the artistic deformation of the architecture, as well as offer a glance into the future of the pavilion and the potential need for change.