The British Pavilion 2017

A collection of videos and articles about this year's British Pavilion.

Phyllida Barlow introduces 'folly'

Join British artist Phyllida Barlow on a tour of her ambitious installation for the British Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2017 in Venice.

The exhibition, entitled 'folly', playfully challenges us to explore our own understanding of sculpture. Commissioned by the British Council, Barlow has transformed everyday materials, such as timber, concrete and fabric, into bold sculptures that infiltrate the entire building, reaching up to the roof and even spilling outside.

Emma Dexter on Phyllida Barlow: folly

Emma Dexter, Commissioner of the British Pavilion and Director Visual Arts at the British Council, explores British artist Phyllida Barlow’s ambitious installation at the Biennale Arte 2017 in Venice.

The making of Phyllida Barlow: folly

Discover how British artist Phyllida Barlow created her ambitious installation for the British Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2017 in Venice.

The exhibition, entitled folly, playfully challenges us to explore our own understanding of sculpture. Commissioned by the British Council, Barlow has transformed everyday materials, such as timber, concrete and fabric, into bold sculptures that infiltrate the entire building, reaching up to the roof and even spilling outside.

Bish-bash-bosh: how Phyllida Barlow conquered the art world at 73 

This is a lovely article in the Guardian by Charlotte Higgins on Phyllida Barlow's rise to fame.
After overlooking her for decades, the art world has woken up to Phyllida Barlow’s audacious, gargantuan sculptures. Now she is representing Britain at the Venice Biennale – but why did it take so long for her to be “discovered”?

And the response the following day, also in the Guardian:

Phyllida Barlow: I couldn't have coped if fame had come 20 years ago

Sculptor who is representing UK at Venice Biennale says she bears no grudge that she spent decades neglected by the art world

Phyllida Barlow: Folly / British Pavilion at Venice Art Biennale 2017

In this video, we have a look at Phyllida Barlow's exhibition “Folly”


The Financial Times isn't very complimentary:


But Michael Glover in The Independent seems more impressed:



It is a shame that translating from Italian often causes problems with gender: 



Find out more about the exhibition:
British Council website

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#BritishPavilion on YouTube
#UKinVenice on YouTube