Water as Protagonist at the 2022 Venice Biennale

The 2022 Venice Biennale prominently features water as a central theme across multiple national pavilions and collateral events. At the US Pavilion, Simone Leigh's bronze sculpture 'Last Garment' incorporates a pool of water that reflects the sky and invites viewers to see themselves, addressing the condition of Afro-descendant women. In the Serbian Pavilion, Vladimir Nikolić's 'Walking with Water' uses two large video installations to immerse visitors in the Mediterranean Sea, intertwining social and political narratives. At the Circolo Ufficiali della Marina Militare, Rafaël Rozendaal's 'Observation' employs digital screens and reflective flooring to create rippling light effects. The Fondazione In Between Art Film presents Emilija Škarnulytė's 'Aphotic Zone,' exploring deep-sea ecosystems through video and installation. Arcangelo Sassolino's 'Diplomazija Astuta' at the Malta Pavilion evokes Caravaggio's chiaroscuro with kinetic sculptures that mimic lagoon reflections. Gian Maria Tosatti's 'Storia della Notte e Destino delle Comete' for the Italian Pavilion ends with a walkway over dark water, awaiting dawn. The article, published on Artribune, underscores water's pervasive presence in Venice and its artistic interpretations.