the vatican pavilion takes shape within a women’s prison at the venice art biennale

the holy see pavilion at the venice biennale 2024

Aligning with the theme of the 60th Edition of the Venice Art Biennale —Strangers Everywhere— the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education directs the Holy See Pavilion’s focus towards human rights and the marginalized. Titled Con i miei occhi (With My Eyes), the exhibition takes place within the Giudecca Women’s Detention Home, a functional female prison, creating a poignant backdrop. The pavilion features works by eight artists, including Maurizio Cattelan, Claire Fontaine, Corita Kent, Bintou Dembélé, Simone Fattal, Sonia Gomes, Marco Perego & Zoe Saldana, and Claire Tabouret. The display runs until November 24th, 2024.

Maurizio Cattelan’s mural decorates the exterior of Giudecca Women’s Prison | all images courtesy of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education

transforming boundaries at Giudecca Women’s Detention Home

Before even entering the venue, the Holy See Pavilion (find more here) redefines the prison space into an otherworldly setting. A striking mural by artist Maurizio Cattelan adorns the detention center’s facade, portraying a set of feet. Inside, a diverse array of artworks awaits guests: neon installations by Claire Fontaine, vibrant pieces by the renowned Pop Art Nun Corita Kent, a suspended installation by Sonia Gomes, video works by Marco Perego & Zoe Saldana, and paintings by Claire Tabouret.

Visits to the Pavilion are strictly by reservation and guided by prisoner-conferencers, challenging the voyeuristic urge and preconceptions towards both artists and inmates. This blurs the lines between observer and observed, between judgment and being judged, prompting reflection on power dynamics within art and institutions. The exhibition, overseen by COR arquitectos and Flavia Chiavaroli Studio, embodies an artistic community born from defiance, reflecting the unity and diversity of disparate lives. Every facet of the exhibition, from workshops to installations, dances to films, performances to paintings, resonates with this shared energy, echoing the urgency of the multifaceted dialogue advocated by Pope Francis. Notably, on April 28, 2024, Pope Francis himself visited the Pavilion, becoming the first Pontiff in history to attend the Venice Biennale.

one of Claire Fontaine’s neon light pieces

through the eyes of the prisoners and the visitors

Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education and Commissioner of the Pavilion, entrusted the curatorship of Con i miei occhi to Chiara Parisi and Bruno Racine.

‘In a surprising corner of the world, artists and female inmates join expressive forces in an unusual collaboration, prison reality and unlimited artistic expression meet and seduce each other: this is the heart of the Holy See Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2024, a project with an incredible visual narrative. With My Eyes invites us to explore the stories and desires of those living inside the prison through projects, workshops, works, poems, and vital spaces such as
gyms and gardens,’ Chiara Parisi says. ‘The path through the Pavilion, without telephones or documents, will allow female inmates to guide visitors ‘through their eyes,’ revealing how beauty and hope are woven into everyday life and how the need for freedom persists in the complexity and criticality of life.’

‘The choice of venue, then, is a manifesto, a statement. Artists from various backgrounds and without distinction of faith come together in this place to bear witness to a universal message of inclusion, working closely with the inmates and enriching the project with their artistic and relational work,’ Bruno Racine shares. ‘Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in this intense poetic experience, deprived of their digital devices and guided by trained female inmates, thus embarking on a journey that challenges preconceptions and opens up new perspectives on art as a medium for human expression and connection. Although it is forbidden to take photographs, we trust that
this experience will remain in the visitor’s memory…with their eyes.’

one of Claire Fontaine’s neon light pieces