KOEN VANMECHELEN

Looking for the Ark

A diptych on two iconic locations

reflecting humanity's journey

A call to reimagine our world

Pavilion of Venice

Out of the pool of the Venice Pavilion rises a 2-meter-tall child, grasping a bronze anchor with glass chain. "Looking for the Ark" serves as a beacon of hope and steadfastness. The sculpture anchors future generations in the depths of heritage and history while looking towards the horizon of possibility.

Tesa 99, Arsenale Nord

At Tesa 99, Koen Vanmechelen presents ‘Noah’s Ark’, a contemporary interpretation of the iconic Venetian water bus — the Vaporetto — transformed into a floating gallery. This vessel, carrying a microcosm of our world, serves as a call to reimagine our world.

Glasstress 8½

Koen Vanmechelen participates in GLASSTRESS 81/2, a group exhibition on the glass island of Murano, organized by Berengo Studio and curated by Umberto Croppi; "The world of glass is an enchanting world in which the most incredible ideas can take shape."

About the artist

Internationally renowned contemporary artist, Koen Vanmechelen (BE, 1965) works at the confluence of art, science, philosophy and social engagement. Best known for his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project, Vanmechelen connects the seemingly unconnected in an effort to investigate, understand and document how we can bring about positive, practical impact on our moment in time and space.

'Looking for the Ark’ stands as a beacon of reflection in the city of water and wonder, beckoning artists, thinkers, and viewers alike to embark on a journey through art and the very core of what it means to be human. In Venice, a city perpetually on the brink of yesterday and tomorrow, the artworks offers a journey into the soul of humanity - a voyage across the seas of time, consciousness, and collective memory.

Koen Vanmechelen, artist

Colophon

Artist: Koen Vanmechelen

Curator and coordinator: Beatrice Mosca

Credits

Studio Koen Vanmechelen

Berengo Studio

Find out more about who made this exhibition possible