That’s a Very Large Number — A Commerzbau

Artists

Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir

Press release

National Participation - Iceland

The Reykjavík-based artist will present "That’s a Very Large Number — A Commerzbau", an exhibition of new sculpture and installation works, curated by American curator Dan Byers. "That’s a Very Large Number — A Commerzbau" will respond to the Icelandic Pavilion and the Biennale Arte 2024 itself, with an uncanny exhibition that playfully subverts expectations of beauty, value, and utility within the framework of a global art event.

Birgisdóttir’s presentation for the Icelandic Pavilion draws inspiration from the tradition of the ‘Merzbau’, a concept pioneered by German dada artist Kurt Schwitters, that involves creating a collage-like, immersive environment from scavenged materials and objects. Schwitters began using the term ‘Merz’ in his work, after discovering a fragment of newspaper printed with the end of the word ‘Commerz’. Birgisdóttir reintroduces the ‘com’, creating her ‘commerzbau’ from commercial fabrications and the castaways of commerce, all tailored to the architecture of the pavilion.

Commissioner: Auður Jörundsdóttir
Curator: Dan Byers