Biennale's Wildest Pavilions: From Nudes to Dolls

The Venice Biennale presents a spectrum of artistic experiences, from the provocative to the contemplative. Austria's pavilion is a major draw, featuring Florentina Holzinger's "Seaworld Venice" with naked performers, a jet ski, and visitor participation in a unique water installation that sparks debate on environmental issues and over-tourism.

The Pavilion of the Holy See offers a contrasting experience, transforming a 17th-century garden into a meditative space. Visitors equipped with headphones listen to experimental music compositions as they stroll through the grounds, with contributions from artists like Brian Eno and Patti Smith.

Canada's pavilion, designed around a central tree, hosts the "Victoria cruziana" water lily, a nod to historical plant transportation and colonial narratives, with its growth cycle mirroring the exhibition's timeline.

Japan's pavilion, "Grass Babies, Moon Babies," by Ei Arakawa-Nash, uses over 200 baby dolls in an interactive installation. Visitors are invited to hold a doll, prompting reflection on parenthood and memory, with individualized poems delivered via QR codes.

The Belgian Pavilion is a raucous spectacle where performers interact with hundreds of plaster tablets, smashing them and chanting, creating a sense of release for many.

Peru's pavilion highlights the work of Indigenous artist Sara Flores, showcasing intricate geometric paintings rooted in the Shipibo-Konibo Kené tradition, exploring themes of community and ancient practices.

The (Unofficial) South African Pavilion displays Gabrielle Goliath's "Elegy," a series of videos honoring victims of femicide and violence, presented in a historic church after its official pavilion was closed due to controversy.