"Anime di Venezia – Souls of Venice" is the new creation
of Italian-American artist Lorenzo Quinn, which will be on display in Venice from 20th
April to 15th September 2024, commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s
death and coinciding with the 60th Art Biennale.
By CLAUDIA PINZINI
June, 2024
"Anime di Venezia – Souls of Venice" is the new creation
of Italian-American artist Lorenzo Quinn, which will be on display in Venice from 20th
April to 15th September 2024, commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s
death and coinciding with the 60th Art Biennale.
Comprised of 15 statues made of a metallic mesh weave of thousands of links, the
installation presents some of the most significant ‘Souls’ that have lived over the
centuries of the Venetian Republic, traditionally known as La Serenissima, sealing the
union and symbiosis between the city and all its artistic expressions that have seen
these Venetians as the protagonists that have helped make the city immortal.
The fascinating installation is located in the Atrium of Ca' Rezzonico, the splendid and
imposing building overlooking the Grand Canal and designed by Baldassare
Longhena, home to the Museum of Eighteenth-Century Venice. It is a refreshing and
iconic project that indelibly marks the bond of love between Venice and Lorenzo
Quinn.
"Anime de Venezia – Souls of Venice" is indeed an absolute novelty in Quinn's
production: for the first time, a work with a historical background, designed specifically
for the museum, "comes to life" thanks to the introduction of a contemporary tool:
augmented reality, expressed through a poetic and magical vision.
THE STATUES SPEAK
Creating the effect of a gallery of statues, one additional facet of Lorenzo Quinn's
installation is that the 15 "Souls" can speak. In fact, by scanning the QR code next to
each statue with one's smartphone, visitors have the opportunity to download an
application through which each metallic figure when captured on screen "transforms"
into an augmented reality image of each character (represented in the clothing of their
historical period) who "speaks" uttering phrases that refer to themselves and their
special relationship with Venice. In practice, thanks to the smartphone and the
dedicated application, the metallic mesh statues virtually come to life, demonstrating
how many and what "Souls" populate the rich history of the Serenissima.
It should be noted that the project, created in collaboration with the Civic Museums
Foundation, enjoys the patronage of the City of Venice and the Committee for the
Marco Polo 700 Celebrations. The Exhibition at Ca' Rezzonico has had an exceptional
preview: since last April 6, the Quinn statue depicting Marco Polo welcomes the visitor
to the Doge's Palace, right at the entrance to the Doge's Apartments, to celebrate the
occasion of "The worlds of Marco Polo. The journey of a Venetian merchant of the
Thirteenth century," the main grand event-exhibition of the Polo celebrations,
organised by the Civic Museums Foundation that is open until September 29, 2024.
THE “SOULS” DI CA’ REZZONICO:
AN ACT OF LOVE FOR VENICE THAT EMBRACES THE WORLD
In addition to the statue of Marco Polo already present at the Doge's Palace, visitors
in Ca'Rezzonico will be able to admire the metallic mesh statues depicting Lorenzo
Tiepolo, Caterina Corner, Veronica Franco, Elena Lucrezia Corner Piscopia, Carlo
Goldoni, Antonio Vivaldi, Marietta Barovier, Elisabetta Caminer Turra, Andrea Palladio,
Antonio Canova, Tiziano Vecellio, Rosalba Carriera, Giacomo Casanova and the
'universal' Marco Polo, which is symbolically represented by the figure of the Gondolier.
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The installation invites everyone to take action and 'save Venice and the whole world'.
"Venice, in its entirety – past, present, and future – has inspired this installation, which
aims to symbolise my 'journey' into the soul of the city," explains Lorenzo Quinn. “It is
a homage to all the 'Souls' that have lived here and will continue to do so for eternity.”
"Through artistic expression, individuals strive to articulate their past and present
experiences. These statues, portraying notable Venetians, both women and men, stand
as testaments to the singular nature of our existence as 'works of art,' crafted by the
hands of Mother Earth herself.
They serve as poignant reminders that our duty topreserve extends beyond Venice alone; it encompasses the entirety of our planet. 'To saveVenice is to save the world’.
Venice epitomises freedom, once a bastion of great power and now a symbol of climatic fragility.
It is a place where art has been honed over the centuries. Through these statues, this legacy persists, transcending time - from the past to the present day and perhaps beyond, into eternity,” concludes Quinn.
"Lorenzo Quinn’s Ca’ Rezzonico project enriches the line-up of contemporary art
exhibitions in the city, merging past and future. It is a tribute to Venice and its historical
figures, who come alive in Quinn's interactive works and remind us, in line with the
museum’s mission, how culture and historical heritage, as expressed in these collections,
remain relevant in the present day," Mariacristina Gribaudi, President of MUVE
commented.
Chiara Squarcina, the project’s curator, reflects: "Immortality has long been
associated with the soul, never the body. The eternal essence of the soul is being
contrasted with the fleeting nature of materiality and this is vividly captured in Lorenzo
Quinn's project. These figures, etched in our collective memory, evoke the beauty of
recollection, offering a first glimpse into their identities. Yet, this serves merely as the
prelude to an extraordinary encounter —a visual journey that will allow us to connect
with these characters anew, thanks to Quinn’s use of immersive virtual reality”.
According to Alberto Toso Fei, who leads the artistic direction of the project, "Venice
is the epicentre of time. It's where everything that ever was, is, and will be, converges
into an uninterrupted 'forever'.
The souls featured in this journey—chosen among a
myriad of possibilities—are voices that populate every present, because Venice is made
up of every aspect of its past. They are men and women who, by fully experiencing it,
have reshaped Venice to make it what it is: they have created it, and in recounting their
own tales, they tell the story of Venice. Despite the passage of time and the historical
transitions witnessed in these spaces, fragments of them endure in Venice, eternally.
Together, they define the essence of Venice, the city of cities, with which they are forever
linked in a legacy that this work cements."
Lorenza Lain, the Project Coordinator, notes: "This installation is designed for the
Marco Polo celebrations and crafted specifically for Ca’ Rezzonico, a project Lorenzo has
dedicated himself to over the past year. It revolves around two central themes: Venice,
the city of cities, from which everything originates— encapsulated by Bruno Tosi's
observation: 'Venice is the oldest city of the future'; and Marco Polo, the famed Venetian
figure, brought to life through immersive reality. He becomes both the narrator and the
lens through which this journey, both physical and spiritual, is experienced. In Lorenzo's
imagination, these figures not only 'embody' Venice but also permanently capture its
eternal essence. It's an ode to beauty, much like the iconic 'Support' hands he crafted for
Ca' Sagredo."
Patrizia Zambelli, Architect and Technical Director, concludes: "Venice encapsulates
everything within itself, embodying both the present and the future. It's a journey
through the centuries of its rich essence, expressed in art, architecture, music, and
theatre—the legacies of its great souls. Venice is the ultimate journey."
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Ca' Rezzonico - Museo del 700 Veneziano
20 April - 15 September 2024
Opening Hours: 10.00am - 19.00pm
Free Admission
Palazzo Ducale
Until 29 September 2024
The worlds of Marco Polo. The journey of a thirteenth-century Venetian merchant
Opening Hours 10.00am - 19.00pm
Entry with Exhibition Ticket
Curator: Chiara Squarcina
Artistic Director: Alberto Toso Fei
Project Co-ordinator: Lorenza Lain
Technical Director: Patrizia Zambelli
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