Christian Holstad's Plastic Waste Cornucopia on Venice's Grand Canal

American artist Christian Holstad (b. 1972) will present a site-specific installation on Venice's Grand Canal from May 9 to June 12, 2019. Titled 'Consider yourself as a guest (Cornucopia),' the work is a giant cornucopia made entirely of plastic waste, commissioned by Milovan Farronato, curator of the Italian Pavilion, and sponsored by FPT Industrial, a leading industrial engine manufacturer and main sponsor of the Pavilion. The installation will be displayed on the waters of the Grand Canal from May 9 to 11, then moved to the courtyard of Ca' Foscari University from May 12 to June 12. Holstad subverts the classical symbol of abundance to critique plastic dependency and environmental degradation. He cites a neighbor's sign reading 'Consider yourself a guest' as inspiration, framing the work as a reflection on humanity's unsustainable consumption and its impact on the planet.