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Relocating a Structure essay film / 2023
 

 
 

 

 

In her project Relocating a Structure. German Pavilion 2022, 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Maria Eichhorn examines the eventful history of the German Pavilion since the beginnings of the Biennale and the powerful resistance art demonstrates when it focuses on social conditions.

The German Pavilion represents a challenge for artists on several completely different levels. With every attempt at deconstruction, one is confronted with it yet again. I regard the German Pavilion not as isolated, but as part of an ensemble and engaged in interplay with other pavilions and other country participations in terms of national-territorial and geopolitical, global-economic, and ecological developments.”
—Maria Eichhorn

 

As part of Maria Eichhorn's contribution to the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2022, eight films were realized documenting the the Relocating a Structure project and bringing it together in a new cinematic form.

 

Eichhorn's idea of translocating and relocating the German Pavilion, which involves dismantling, removing, relocating, and reassembling the individual elements and fabric of the building, or relocating the structure as a whole, was accompanied from the outset by an analysis of the building’s specific structure, which actually consists of two buildings: the Bavarian Pavilion, built in 1909, and the German Pavilion, rebuilt in its current form in 1938. With the translocation of the building in mind, the historical joins in the building were exposed, making not only the conversion and extension of 1939 visible and tangible but also the Bavarian Pavilion of 1909 hidden beneath.

 

Where is the original structure? Where does the conversion and the extension begin?

 

The essay film Relocating a Structure includes a philosophical note on the idea of the German pavilion. It describes the initial technical plan of the removal of the pavilion and uses historical examples of a house removal practice. It tells about the Italian resistance - from the partisans to present-day activists, and emphasizes the problems of overpopulation and pollution caused by massive tourism in Venice.

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Format: FULL HD, color

Length: 30 min 55 sec

A Project by  

Maria Eichhorn

German Pavilion 2022

59th International Art Exhibition

La Biennale di Venezia

Production Country    

Germany

Directed by

Sabrina Labis and Kristina Paustian

Producers, Photography, Editing
Sabrina Labis and Kristina Paustian

Narrator     

Ruth Rosenfeld

Music

Ben Fawkes

The film was realized with the participation of

Dana Andrei

Marco Baravalle

Giulio Bobbo

Yilmaz Dziewior

Arno Löbbecke

Vittoria Martini

Anh-Linh Ngo

Leonie Radine

Luisella Romeo

Ruth Rosenfeld

Sound Design

Christian Obermaier

Colorist

Susi Dollnig

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

The German contribution to the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia is realized on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office and in cooperation with ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen.

 
 

 

 

Initial partner

 
 

 

 

With generous support

 
 

 

 

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