Beverly Barkat's Site-Specific Installation at Palazzo Grimani During Venice Biennale

Beverly Barkat (born 1966, Johannesburg) presented a site-specific exhibition at Museo di Palazzo Grimani in Venice during the 2017 Venice Biennale, directed by Christine Macel. The show featured custom PVC panels painted on both sides, designed to engage with the Renaissance architecture and frescoes of the palace, including a Giorgione nude. Barkat recreated her studio within the museum, emphasizing the relationship between artwork, environment, and audience. She highlighted the parallels between Jerusalem, where she lives with her husband, Mayor Nir Barkat, and Venice, both layered with history and spirituality. The installation was developed through close listening to the building and its staff, turning limitations into creative solutions. Barkat praised the innovative Israeli art scene and hinted at a future project in South Africa, her birthplace.