Absorbing Modernity was one of the thematic components of the 14th Architecture Biennale in Venice. The Austrian contribution was dedicated to the comparison of the architecture of parliaments worldwide, investigating indirectly the influence of modernism on these buildings.
The courtyard of the Austrian pavilion (built by Josef Hoffmann) was dedicated to those new social movements who gather and organize themselves ad hoc by media like twitter and facebook. A grove of 41 trees symbolized a dense ambiance for those ephemeral powers who act apart of the traditional spaces of power. Depending on the geography of our viewpoint the trees coming from different continents and climate zones were considered natives, strangers or guests.
The grove seemed to merge into the surrounding landscape.
The pathetic arrangement of the architecture of the parliaments was contrasted with a different kind of order.
2015 the garden was redesigned as a patio for the installation of Heimo Zobernig at the Art Biennale.
The trees will remain as "juwels" spread out in the Biennale Giardini.