Anne Imhof and Franz Erhard Walther from Fulda win Golden Lions at this year’s Venice Art Biennale.

To mark this, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel issued the following statement:

Background information

Franz Erhard Walther and Anne Imhof have won the two most important prizes at this year’s Venice Art Biennale. The German Pavilion designed by the Frankfurt artist Anne Imhof was awarded the Golden Lion for best national participation. Franz Erhard Walther from Fulda was awarded the Golden Lion as best artist. This was announced by the jury in Venice on Saturday.

In the German Pavilion, the Frankfurt artist Anne Imhof (39) is staging the approximately five‑hour long “Faust” performance. The pavilion is curated by Susanne Pfeffer, director of the Museum Fridericianum in Kassel. The conceptual artist Franz Erhard Walther (77) is exhibiting a large‑scale textile work. He is known for creating art which allows the observer to take part.

The last time the German Pavilion won the Golden Lion was in 2011, when Christoph Schlingensief was awarded the prize posthumously. In 2013, the German‑British artist Tino Sehgal was awarded the Golden Lion as best artist.

Main exhibition entitled “Viva Arte Viva”

The 57^th Art Biennale opened to the public on Saturday. Half a million visitors are expected to go to one of the most important exhibitions of contemporary art until 26 November. The main exhibition entitled “Viva Arte Viva” (long live art) is curated by Christine Macel from France.

Around 120 artists from 51 countries are showing their works, which include three German artists alongside Franz Erhard Walther. In addition to the main exhibition, more than 80 national pavilions are presenting their countries’ contributions.