Biennale Arte 2026 | As Above, So Below
Fabbrica H3 (the former Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano), island of Giudecca, Venice, Italy
May 9, 2026 - June 8, 2026
As Above, So Below, curated by Farah Piriye Coene and Elizabeth Zhivkova, explores the ocean as both a scientific system and a cultural memory, tracing its role as a generative force shaping life on Earth. Across four commissioned and three adapted works, the exhibition brings together international artists working with sound, light, material systems and digital media, translating marine research and ecological knowledge into immersive experiences.
Through audiovisual environments, sound works, bioluminescent installations, cyber-textiles, AI-generated imagery, holography and living systems, the artists invite visitors to encounter the ocean as a space of communication, migration and deep interdependence. Whales, underwater sound, mycelial networks and disappearing seas reveal hidden systems connecting ocean, land and atmosphere.
Developed by One Ocean Foundation and ZEITGEIST19, As Above, So Below draws on an ongoing series of podcast episodes and artist residencies, reactivating the former monastery as a contemporary sanctuary for listening and reflection on what sustains life and what is at risk of being lost.
