New Zealand Nixes National Pavilion for Venice Biennale 2024

Venice Biennale 9 May–22 November 2026

Creative New Zealand has confirmed that Aotearoa New Zealand will not have a national pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, which runs from 20 April to 24 November 2024.

‘New Zealand’s presence at the 2024 Venice Biennale will be different from past years, as there will not be a national pavilion,’ said a spokesperson for Creative New Zealand, the national arts development agency of the New Zealand government.

Nevertheless, New Zealand artists will be showing at the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event.

‘New Zealand artists have been invited to participate in the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia’s International Exhibition, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere,’ they said.

The Venice Biennale will announce artists participating in the International Art Exhibition in 2024.

A review of New Zealand’s presence in Venice conducted in 2022 found that resources are ‘inadequate’ and the way it is currently managed is ‘unsustainable’. It noted that about N.Z. $1.2 million (U.S. $480,000) is required over a two-year cycle to deliver the pavilion, of which Creative New Zealand contributes N.Z. $800,000 —roughly 1 percent of its annual budget.

Creative New Zealand announced in December 2022 that, following the review, it would partner with ‘another organisation or a consortium’ to support New Zealand’s presence at the Venice Biennale in 2026, 2028, and 2030.

‘A national pavilion is planned for 2026, 2028 and 2030,’ confirmed Creative New Zealand.

In September, Creative New Zealand will seek expressions of interest from potential partners to deliver these national pavilions.

New Zealand has exhibited at the Venice Biennale in every edition since 2001, but it has not always had a national pavilion. In 2007, the installation Aniwaniwa by Brett Graham and Rachael Rakena was included in the Collateral Events section.

In addition to the as yet unnamed New Zealand artists presenting in the Venice Biennale’s International Exhibition, Areez Katki and Caitlin Devoy will present works in the seventh edition of Personal Structures, which is organised by the European Cultural Centre and takes place on the same dates as the Venice Biennale. Both received funding from Creative New Zealand for their presentations.

‘It’s incredibly exciting, and will be an honour to show in Venice as a N.Z. Artist!’ said Devoy, who was born in London.

‘I have a space to myself in the Palazzo Mora (historically the servant’s bathroom) in which to show a collection of works.’

Devoy’s presentation, BodyObject, comprises a performance video and fleshy silicone sculptures that droop and bounce.

‘My practice contests the privileging of male artist and viewer, and reflects my concerns around objectification, equality, gender stereotypes, and sexuality, whilst avoiding authoritative moralising,’ Devoy said. ‘I’ve always appreciated the capacity of humour to subvert essentialist positions. One does not need to be “serious” to critique.’

Katki said his project would attempt to ‘reframe the practice of archaeology’ as ‘a pedagogy rooted in care’ that acknowledges different identities, such as his own as a Zoroastrian Parsi from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Katki’s works will include sculptures made from suspended textiles and borrowed material. —[O]

Main image: Yuki Kihara, Paradise Camp (2022). Exhibition view: New Zealand Pavilion at The Milk of Dreams, 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (23 April–27 November 2022). Courtesy La Biennale di Venezia. Photo: Andrea Avezzù.