Berggruen Arts & Culture's permanent contemporary art space in Venice at Palazzo Diedo launches on 20 April with the unveiling of site-specific commissions by 11 internationally acclaimed artists – including Hiroshi Sugimoto and Lee Ufan – in the exhibition 'Janus'.

This inaugural exhibition, along with two special projects, presented in partnership with New York City’s The Kitchen and the Polaroid Foundation, respectively, follows major restoration of Palazzo Diedo over the last two years, and coincides with the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2024.

The artists’ interventions have been conceived in response to the architecture and original features of the 18th-century building by architect Andrea Tirali, once home to one of Venice’s most powerful families and formerly a primary school and court. The works are often inspired by traditional crafts associated with Venice, such as frescos, Murano glass, precious fabrics and Venetian floor design. The exhibition takes its name from the Roman god of beginnings, often seen with two faces, one looking forward and the other backwards, symbolic of the exhibition’s aims to bring together the historical and contemporary.

Janus is curated by Mario Codognato, Director of Berggruen Arts & Culture and Adriana Rispoli, Curator of Berggruen Arts & Culture.

Berggruen Arts & Culture's permanent contemporary art space in Venice at Palazzo Diedo launches on 20 April with the unveiling of site-specific commissions by 11 internationally acclaimed artists – including Hiroshi Sugimoto and Lee Ufan – in the exhibition 'Janus'.

This inaugural exhibition, along with two special projects, presented in partnership with New York City’s The Kitchen and the Polaroid Foundation, respectively, follows major restoration of Palazzo Diedo over the last two years, and coincides with the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2024.

The artists’ interventions have been conceived in response to the architecture and original features of the 18th-century building by architect Andrea Tirali, once home to one of Venice’s most powerful families and formerly a primary school and court. The works are often inspired by traditional crafts associated with Venice, such as frescos, Murano glass, precious fabrics and Venetian floor design. The exhibition takes its name from the Roman god of beginnings, often seen with two faces, one looking forward and the other backwards, symbolic of the exhibition’s aims to bring together the historical and contemporary.

Janus is curated by Mario Codognato, Director of Berggruen Arts & Culture and Adriana Rispoli, Curator of Berggruen Arts & Culture.