Indonesia
The Indonesian Pavilion showcases the Indonesian way of building, which is dominated by skilled and unskilled laborers as well as artisans who rely on intricate tools and the touch of their hands. The exhibition explores the theme of Craftsmanship (Ketukangan) as an alternative way to humanize the act of working and brings man closer to materials. It is approached through six materials and crafts closely linked with Indonesian architectural history, such as timber, stone, bricks, concrete, metals, and bamboo. The exhibition tells the story of each material and craft, their life in the art of buildings, and their interaction with changing times.
Supermarket sweep… the Latvian pavilion which has been transformed into a minimart.
This contribution brings a little levity to the long trek through the halls of the Arsenale.
Choice as the basis of architectural process, the pop aesthetics emphasizing the languages of consumption as in Hamilton or Warhol: everything is structured by the dynamics of commerce.
Presented as a supermarket, its "products" feature the text from every national biennale exhibit from the last decade, boiled down to its essence through Al. It sticks a pin into the whole ball of hot air. Thank you for that.
Funny thing about designing one liners is they aren't good unless you follow them to the utter end with utmost seriousness lol. That's why I loved the Latvian pavilion this year!
Welcome to T/C Latvija, surely the most instagrammed installation of this edition of the Biennale
Latvia is reopening the archive boxes once again, reminding us (including the Biennial Presidency) of everything that has already been thought up and invented, and inviting us to place the most urgently needed products in the basket, to combine them with one another, and ultimately consume all the knowledge.
Fun, colourful and thought-provoking, it offers a tongue-in-cheek moment to the Arsenale sequence...