Das letzte Land

Hans Schabus, born in Watschig, Austria, in 1970, has been nominated by Max Hollein, Commissioner of the Austrian Pavilion and Director of the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, to represent Austria at this year's Venice Biennial. Hans Schabus has attracted attention in recent years above all with his contribution to Manifesta in Frankfurt ("Western," 2002) and solo exhibitions in the Secession in Vienna ("Astronaut [komme gleich]"/Astronaut [be right back], 2003), in the Bonner Kunstverein ("Transport," 2003), and in the Kunsthaus Bregenz ("Das Rendezvousproblem"/The rendezvous problem, 2004). The project he has developed for the Venice Biennial transforms the listed building by Josef Hoffmann: though scarcely visible, the pavilion is massively present.