Hernan Bas Explores Tourism as Theatre in Venice Exhibition

Hernan Bas's exhibition "The Visitors" opened at Ca' Pesaro—International Gallery of Modern Art in Venice, running from May 7 to August 30, 2026. The show features over 30 new paintings created partly during the artist's residency in Venice, presented as an immersive installation. Bas's work focuses on the contemporary tourist, depicting young Western men in bucket-list destinations, sacred spaces, and dark tourism sites, examining the boundary between curiosity and entitlement. In an interview with Whitewall, Bas discusses how tourism functions as performance, the emotional dislocation of travel, and the role of narrative in his practice. He notes that all tourism is a form of performance, especially with social media's influence, and expresses little sympathy for 'beg-packers' but hopes humor is the main takeaway. The installation, with works hung in grids, is described as a storyboard or Instagram feed. Bas emphasizes the importance of storytelling in his work, often inventing narratives rather than borrowing from literature. He acknowledges the tension between satire and empathy in his characters, aiming for introspection from viewers. The exhibition is presented by Lehmann Maupin, Perrotin, and Victoria Miro, with installation photos by Andrea Rossetti.