TBA21–Academy to Open Ocean Space in Venice's Church of San Lorenzo

Francesca von Habsburg, founder of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) in Vienna, announced the opening of Ocean Space in Venice. The hub, located in the Church of San Lorenzo near the Arsenale, will serve as a permanent base for TBA21–Academy, uniting artists, scientists, anthropologists, activists, and researchers focused on ocean defense and climate change. The church, built in the mid-9th century and rebuilt in Gothic style after a 1140 fire, has been unused for over 25 years. TBA21 is funding its restoration with €1.2 million, having won a municipal tender. Ocean Space will host installations, performances, workshops, and a research archive. The opening is planned for summer 2019, ideally coinciding with the 58th Venice Biennale. TBA21–Academy, founded in 2011, uses art to explore ocean knowledge and environmental issues. Directed by Markus Reymann, it runs The Current, a three-year fellowship program with expeditions on the research vessel Dardanella. The first expedition was led by curator Ute Meta Bauer; the second, starting in 2018, is led by curator Chus Martínez and artist collective SUPERFLEX. The academy has commissioned 15 new works from artists including John Akomfrah, Joan Jonas, Armin Linke, and Eduardo Navarro. Linke's exhibition Prospecting Ocean, currently in Venice, critiques economic exploitation of the oceans.