Palazzo Diedo opens in Venice, a great new space for contemporary art

In Venice from April 20, 2024, there will be a new space forcontemporary art , and it will be one of the largest in the city: Berggruen Arts & Culture, after acquiring the Casa dei Tre Oci in 2021 to make it the home of the Berggruen Institute, in fact opens Palazzo Diedo, the largest exhibition venue for contemporary art opened in Venice in the last decade. The inaugural exhibition, titled Janus, features 11 site-specific interventions by renowned international artists Urs Fischer, Piero Golia, Carsten Höller, Ibrahim Mahama, Mariko Mori, Sterling Ruby, Jim Shaw, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Aya Takano, Lee Ufan and Liu Wei.

These interventions were carefully conceived to dialogue with the architecture and atmosphere of the 18th-century palace designed by Andrea Tirali, which once housed one of Venice’s most influential families. The goal of the Janus exhibition is to create a symbolic bridge between history and the contemporary, recalling the ancient Roman deity Janus, who is often represented with two faces looking to the past and the future, respectively. Janus aims to offer the public an experience that can celebrate, through contemporary art, the traditional crafts associated with Venice, such as Murano glassmaking and the production of fine textiles. In addition, a preview will be presented of Peace Crystal: A Prayer for Peace by Mariko Mori, a work that, from May 13, will then be exhibited in the Gardens of Palazzo Corner della Ca’ Granda.

In parallel with the Janus exhibition, the interdisciplinary cultural institution The Kitchen in New York will feature a solo exhibition by young artist Rhea Dillon. Dillon’s work explores the concept of Blackness in art and aesthetic theory, offering the public an opportunity to immerse themselves in her work through striking films and sculptures. At Palazzo Diedo, the Polaroid Foundation will be another prominent presence, inviting artists in the exhibition to create original works using the famous Polaroid 20x24 instant camera. Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Jim Dine, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Mary Ellen Mark, Mickalene Thomas, Robert Frank, Robert Mapplethorpe, Robert Rauschenberg and Sally Mann are just a few of the artists who have collaborated with this iconic camera in the past. John Reuter, an expert in the use of Polaroid since 1980, will support the artists in creating 20 x 24-inch (50 x 60 cm) images for Palazzo Diedo.

In addition, there will be a small cinema inside Palazzo Diedo that will screen the latest film by Koo Jeong A, an artist representing South Korea at this year’s Art Biennale, every Thursday until November.

Over the past two years, Berggruen Arts & Culture has completed a major restoration of Palazzo Diedo, bringing its history to light. Two cycles of frescoes by Francesco Fontebasso (1707-1769) and Costantino Cedini (1741-1811) on the second floor, along with six Roman capricci - scenes combining historical and fantasy elements - have been fully restored.

Founded by Berggruen Arts & Culture, a charitable foundation created by collector and philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen, Palazzo Diedo aims to explore the link between contemporary art and the past, as well as between East and West. The palace will host artist residencies, exhibitions, events, films and performances on five different levels, with a total area of 4,000 square meters.

In 2022, Sterling Ruby unveiled the first project at Palazzo Diedo, a facade sculpture called HEX, installed prior to the completion of the restoration.

“Venice has historically been a catalyst for creativity, ideas, experimentation and exchange,” says Nicolas Berggruen, collector and founder of the Berggruen Institute. “With Berggruen Arts & Culture, we aim to revive the production of artworks, to enliven the extraordinary treasure of Palazzo Diedo. Together with the Berggruen Institute, which hosts discussions and a residency program at the Casa dei Tre Oci, we see Venice as a generator of culture and ideas. Janus symbolizes our commitment to build on the past in a contemporary way.”

“Venice is world famous both as a showcase for contemporary art and of course for its culture of historical and artistic traditions,” says Mario Codognato, director of Berggruen Arts & Culture and curator of the exhibition. “Palazzo Diedo adds to this already incredible panorama with its exhibition rooms and a new feature: artist studios. With an extended residency program, the spaces will allow artists to immerse themselves in the traditions and atmosphere of a city perpetually placed in another era. I’m really excited to see what will emerge.”

Palazzo Diedo opens in Venice, a great new space for contemporary art

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