The Facts
The Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See announced on August 19, 2026, the 24 artists participating in the Holy See Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the exhibition titled "L'orecchio è l'occhio dell'anima" (The ear is the eye of the soul) unfolds across two venues: the Giardino Mistico in Cannaregio and the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Castello. Themed around the life and legacy of 12th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen, the pavilion presents new commissions from 24 artists, including Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Jim Jarmusch, Meredith Monk, and Patti Smith, alongside the final work of filmmaker Alexander Kluge, who died on March 25, 2026. The exhibition responds to curator Koyo Kouoh's invitation to slow down, taking the form of a sonic prayer.
The Signal
The inclusion of a Holy See pavilion with such a broad, interdisciplinary roster signals an institutional embrace of contemporary art as a vehicle for spiritual and contemplative experience, rather than doctrinal messaging. Curators Obrist and Vickers bring a tech-and-nature-oriented sensibility, with Vickers developing a research center called New Water focused on technology and spirituality. The collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, known for site-specific sound installations, and the involvement of figures like Alexander Kluge's estate, positions the pavilion as a platform for legacy artists and experimental music. For collectors and curators, this may indicate a growing papal interest in art as a space for dialogue between faith and contemporary practice, potentially raising the profile of artist-monastic collaborations in future biennials.
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- Artists: Bhanu Kapil, Brian Eno, Carminho, Caterina Barbieri, Devonté Hynes, FKA Twigs, Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, Jim Jarmusch, Kali Malone, Kazu Makino, Laraaji, Meredith Monk, Moor Mother, Otobong Nkanga, Patti Smith, Precious Okoyomon, Raúl Zurita, Soundwalk Collective, Suzanne Ciani, Terry Riley, Alexander Kluge, Ilda David', Tatiana Bilbao
- People: Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ben Vickers, Koyo Kouoh, Pope Leo XIV, Stephan Crasneanscki, Simone Merli
- Galleries: Gladstone Gallery
- Museums: Serpentine
- Locations: Venice
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