Swiss artist Signer features at Biennale art exhibition

The work of Swiss artist Roman Signer is featured prominently at the 48th International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Venice.

The work of Swiss artist Roman Signer is featured prominently at the 48th International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Venice.

The new director – Harald Szeemann of Switzerland – has promised viewers “a long walk with plenty of surprises”.

The title of this year’s exhibition is “d’APERTutto” – open to all – and it features the works of 100 artists from 59 countries. For the first time, the concept of individual country pavilions has been slightly modified – the Italian pavilion is being used to juxtapose works from Italy with those of other countries.

Szeemann said it was his intention to depict a variety of contemporary art without emphasising any one particular style. He added that initial reactions showed his aims had been understood.

The works of Signer – Switzerland’s official representative at the exhibition – can be seen at the Swiss pavilion. On display are five events-based sculptures.

One of two works on display by the Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist is an installation called Vorstadthirn” – “suburban brain” – a reflection of her own childhood in a detached house complete with barbecue and lawnmower. Rist uses a range of media – including models and video clips – to get her point across.

Other Swiss artists whose works are being shown include the late Dieter Roth, and the Berne-based painter and woodworker Franz Gertsch. Swiss artist Lori Herberger is exhibiting a giant floating patchwork carpet and Thomas Hirschhorn has created a display called “Flugplatz Welt/World Airport”.

The Biennale is on until November 7.