German pavilion


The German pavilion houses Germany's national representation during the Venice Biennale arts festivals.
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Organization and building

Architect Daniele Donghi designed the pavilion in a neoclassical style. It was built in 1909 and originally displayed Munich Secession works. The building was torn down and rebuilt by Ernst Haiger's design in 1938.
The commissioner for the German contribution to Biennial is the Federal Foreign Office. On the recommendation of an advisory committee of museum directors and art experts, the ministry appoints a curator responsible for the selection of the artists and the organisation of the contribution. This appointment is usually for two years in succession. The Sparkassen-Kulturfonds of the Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband is the pavilion's main sponsor. The Goethe-Institut and, since 2013, the ifa Friends of the German Pavilion are also funders.
From 1982 until 1990 the German Democratic Republic organized its own exhibitions in the former Pavilion of Decorative Art. Germany's pavilion was redesigned by Ernst Haiger and inaugurated in 1938 by the ruling Government of [Nazi Germany|Nazi government], a fact that has inspired artistic responses from some presenters.
At the 1993 Biennale, Germany's exhibition "Germania" by Hans Haacke involved destroying the Nazi era marble floor of the German pavilion.

Representation by year

Art