La Bretagne s’invite à la Biennale de Venise : un insolite pavillon dédié à la création bretonne s’est amarré dans la lagune
For the 61st Venice Biennale, a group of artists and art figures from Brittany have created an unofficial "Breton pavilion" in the form of a spectacular sailboat moored on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The boat, designed by artist Joachim Monvoisin, features contributions from Morgane Tschiember (who sewed a sail with a black cross, the 11th-century Breton flag) and master glassmaker Andrew Erdos (who made the navigation lights). Performances during the opening week included readings by Breton authors and traditional music concerts with binious and bombardes on the Via Garibaldi.
This initiative matters because it marks a strategic push for visibility for Breton contemporary art at the world's most important contemporary art event. Led by patrons Pierre-Yves Geoffard and Sylvie Astier, and supported by figures like Patrice Joly (director of Zoo art center in Nantes), the project aims to secure a permanent physical pavilion for Brittany at the next Biennale in 2028. It highlights the strength and engagement of the Breton artistic community and their desire to gain international recognition.