"Der Backlash ist da"
Kathleen Reinhardt, the curator of the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, has announced her concept featuring artists Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann under the title "Ruin." The exhibition will use East Germany as a prism to explore themes of power, history, and the present. Reinhardt was invited to submit a concrete concept and specific artists for this edition of the pavilion.
This matters because the German Pavilion is a major platform at one of the world's most prestigious art events, the Venice Biennale. By focusing on East Germany and the concept of ruin, Reinhardt's curatorial approach addresses contemporary political and historical narratives, offering a critical lens on current societal issues. The choice of artists and theme signals a continued engagement with post-reunification identity and the legacies of divided Germany.