The ‘Fortress’ is the title of the new work to be presented by artist Dries Verhoeven and curator Rieke Vos for the 61st edition of the Venice Biennale. Dries Verhoeven and Rieke Vos are currently developing a performance and architectural intervention for the Rietveld Pavilion, marking the first time that performance will be presented in the Dutch Pavilion. The Venice Biennale will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026.
With The Fortress, Verhoeven and Vos examine the human instinct for self-protection – the urge to safeguard one’s boundaries, peace of mind and way of life. In an age of uncertainty, the duo reflects on how Western society grapples with the tension between its enlightened self-image and an increasingly bleak outlook on the future. Through this work, Verhoeven draws visitors directly into this contradiction. The Rietveld Pavilion,built amid the progressive optimism of the postwar era, not only serves as the setting for the presentation but also becomes an integral part of the work itself.
Dries Verhoeven: “The Biennale’s design perpetuates an old-world order, which fascinates me. Many former Western powers have a prominent place there. The Netherlands, with its modernist pavilion, can present itself as a model of openness, progress, and internationalism. But do we still recognise ourselves in this image?”
