Penelope's Journeys exhibition in Venice reinterprets myth with works by three artists

The exhibition Penelope. Her Journeys, curated by Francesca Giubilei and Valentina Secco, opened at the Fondation Valmont – Palazzo Bonvicini in Venice on May 5, 2026, running through January 31, 2027. Presented by Valmont, the show challenges traditional narratives of the Penelope myth, framing her waiting and weaving as acts of sabotage and politics rather than passive virtue. Three artists offer distinct responses: Gayle Chong Kwan transforms domestic space into a battleground with The Lotus Eaters, blending sculpture, wearable textiles, virtual reality, and ritual processions. Stephanie Blake posits Penelope as Homer in a sparse installation featuring a desk, bronze portrait, and typewriter, where typing generates blue waves that fill the room. Kimiko Yoshida centers on ritual with Après le Massacre, la Réconciliation, featuring a pink Murano glass chandelier over a dining table, culminating in Le Dîner de Réconciliation, a meal for selected guests. The curators emphasize femininity as a viewpoint that reshapes myth and history. Housed in the historic Palazzo Bonvicini in Santa Croce, the venue's centuries of domestic confinement for women amplify the exhibition's themes. The show runs concurrently with the Venice Biennale, offering a critical intervention amid the city's bustling art scene.