San Giacomo: Venice's Self-Sufficient Art Island Opens with Permanent Installations

In 2018, Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo acquired San Giacomo island and has since developed it into a self-sustaining art destination. The venue showcases permanent works by artists including Hugh Hayden, Pamela Rosenkranz, Claire Fontaine, Goshka Macuga, and Matt Copson. Notable pieces comprise Hayden's 'Huff and Puff', Rosenkranz's pink tree, Fontaine's LED sign, Macuga's structure, and Copson's 'Fanfare/Lament'. The island is powered off-grid through a photovoltaic system from Asja Energy, owned by Agostino Re Rebaudengo, and features an ancient well for water and a restored vineyard. Two powder magazines from the Napoleonic era serve as exhibition areas. Entry is free, with guided tours and a new waterbus dock in progress. The island's history traces back to 1046, having served multiple functions until its abandonment in 1961.