Tatiana Trouvé's 'The Strange Life of Things' at Palazzo Grassi explores material preservation through 150+ works

Tatiana Trouvé's exhibition 'The Strange Life of Things' at Palazzo Grassi in Venice presents over 150 works from 2003–2025, including more than 20 pieces from the Pinault Collection. The French-Italian artist transforms everyday objects like suitcases, shoes, keys, chairs, benches, tape recorders, blankets, and books through materials such as stone, marble, bronze, copper, brass, glass, plaster, and aluminum. Techniques include casting, carving, and drawing. Her sculptures and drawings generate narratives that disrupt geographic and temporal coordinates. The exhibition features 'Cities' (2024), a collection of bronze and copper necklaces made from found branches, bones, insects, feathers, shells, and cigarette lighters. 'Storia Notturna, 30 giugno 2023' (2024) is a plaster wall sculpture preserving residues from civil unrest in Montreuil, Paris, following the police shooting of a seventeen-year-old boy of African descent. 'Hors-sol' (2025) is a site-specific asphalt platform with casts of manhole covers from Paris, London, Rome, Venice, and New York, creating an imaginary map of urban infrastructure. The first floor includes 'Notes on Sculpture' (2022–25) and 'The Guardians' (2013–), stone-carved chairs and benches with books. The second floor showcases drawing series like 'Intranquillity' (2005–), inspired by Fernando Pessoa's concept, and 'Les Dessouvenus' (2013–), depicting institutional spaces invaded by forests. The exhibition runs through 4 January 2026.