JR Replaces Biblical Figures with Real People in Venice

JR's latest intervention in Venice, titled 'Il Gesto,' reimagines Paolo Veronese's Renaissance masterpiece 'The Wedding at Cana' by replacing its biblical characters with 176 real members of Refettorio Paris—guests, volunteers, and chefs. For one week, the work extends across the facade of Palazzo Ca' da Mosto from the Grand Canal to the Piano Nobile, moving between public and private space. It then continues inside The Venice Venice Hotel as an immersive installation. The miracle shifts from religious to human, transforming difficulty into sharing. Refettorio Paris hosts vulnerable people as guests of honor each evening, building a cultural experience around food, with a strict no-photography rule. In 'Il Gesto,' only those who chose to appear are shown, maintaining their identity and voice. As in JR's 'Chronicles,' every figure is in focus without hierarchy, creating a shared space where all presences matter equally. The project connects the Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore—origin of Veronese's work and venue for 'Omelia Contadina'—with Paris and the Louvre, where the painting is now housed.