Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The article is part of Frieze's Critic's Guides series, published on May 6, 2026.
This review matters because it highlights the varying quality and conceptual depth of national presentations at one of the world's most prestigious art exhibitions, offering critical perspective on how different countries represent their contemporary art scenes on an international stage.