“The ark stands as a beacon of reflection in the city of water and wonder, beckoning us 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 artwork offers a journey into the soul of humanity – a voyage across the seas of time, consciousness, and collective memory. Above all, it is an ode to the future in which there is room for all life in all its forms.”
– Koen Vanmechelen
With Noah’s Ark, Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen presents a contemporary interpretation of the iconic Venetian water bus. Originally created as part of the project Looking for the Ark which the artist produced in dialogue with his contribution to the Venice Pavilion at the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale, the artwork was first shown within the Arsenale. This year it moves to the Marco Polo airport, an initiative made possible by the collaboration between Fondazione Berengo, lineadacqua, and SAVE Group.
Vanmechelen uses the motif of the biblical tale to present a contemporary interpretation of a vaporetto, a Venetian water bus. The artist transforms this iconic symbol into a floating gallery. The boat, laden with sculptures of glass, taxidermy, bronze and 3D printing, transports a microcosm of our world. The mixed media reflects on the varied nature of the planet we call home and the unique environment of Venice itself. Animated with videos of passengers the ark also carries an array of familiar faces, symbols of human genius, philosophical thought, and the power of change, from Frida Kahlo and Albert Einstein to Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. The boat is filled with individuals that carry with them messages that transcend the times in which they lived. Flora, fauna, and near-extinct species spring to life upon its bow, a poignant reminder of the impact of the Anthropocene. Half in our realm, half in another, they call for greater ecological awareness.
Recontextualized within Marco Polo airport the ark will take on a new vital significance as a vessel for change and diversity, underlining the important work to be done to save Venice from an ecological standpoint but also from a cultural one. Created in collaboration with the glass maestros of Murano and Venetian craftsmen it stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between the international city and the wider world, a reminder that together we can forge its future.
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