Wallace Chan's Titanium Sculptures Dialogue with Venetian Heritage at Two Biennale Sites

Hong Kong-based jeweller and sculptor Wallace Chan has taken over two historic Venice sites for dual presentations during the Venice Biennale. At Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, his installation 'Mythos' features suspended titanium sculptures inspired by Tintoretto's 'The Three Graces and Mercury' (1576-77) and the building's 19th-century role as an astronomical observation point. The Three Graces appear as abstract faces, Mercury as a celestial body, accompanied by a soundscape from Chan's Shanghai workshop. At the Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà, 'Vessels of Other Worlds' presents three 1.5m-high titanium sculptures inspired by Catholic oil vessels and Hieronymus Bosch. Both exhibitions run until 18 October. A monumental version of the vessels will open at the Long Museum in Shanghai on 18 July, reaching up to 10m in height with revolving interiors. Curator James Putnam, known for placing contemporary art in historical collections at the British Museum, organized the juxtapositions. Chan, who studied as a Buddhist monk before starting jewellery in 2011, views titanium as the material closest to eternity.