Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to draw your attention to our press conference on the Austrian contribution to the Biennale on Friday, June 8, 2007, at 3.30 p.m. in the Austrian Biennale Pavilion.

In recent weeks, the Austrian Pavilion for the Biennale di Venezia has been prepared for the exhibition of Herbert Brandl’s paintings, with some striking modifications being made, in part restoring the original proportions and spatial relationships from the days of Josef Hoffmann, the architect who originally designed the pavilion. The exhibition itself will be completed in the course of May.

Attached please find a conversation with Herbert Brandl about his forthcoming show at the Austrian Pavilion at Biennale di Venezia, which I had with him a few days ago.

Feel free to quote from this text. Longer quotations or reproduction of the entire text only with our written approval. Should you require such please contact our Press desk, Angelika Leu-Barthel by mail at presse@biennale07.at or by phone at +49-40-32 10 32 50.

We would gladly respond to any additional enquiries you may have.

With my best wishes,

Robert Fleck
Commissioner of the Austrian contribution to the 52nd International
Art Exhibition at the Biennale di Venezia

Robert Fleck: Among your paintings for Venice there is one abstract one with a “crazy” color combination or red, yellow and violet. It reminds me of a sunset. Is such an interpretation permissible?

Herbert Brandl: It is a sunrise. (laughs) The red of dawn.

RF: You often study photos before you start painting. Was there one that inspired the painting?

HB: Yes. However, they were photos of a sunset. The picture then turned into a sunrise in the process of painting. The photos were taken in the North of Lanzarote, from a steep cliff looking out to sea. I have constantly found the idea of processing these photos exciting. Of course I did not paint copies of them. It’s as if you see them out of the side of your eyes.