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In a surprising move, the Vatican has chosen Maurizio Cattelan as one of the artists to create work for The Holy See Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024, scheduled from April 20 to November 24, 2024. This announcement has sent shockwaves through the art world, given Cattelan’s reputation for dark humor and biting satire in his art.
Cattelan is known for controversial pieces such as the banana taped to a wall (Comedian, 2019), a golden toilet (America, 2016), and notably, a sculpture of a Pope struck by a meteorite (La Nona Ora, 1999). The latter caused significant controversy in religious circles at the time, making it almost unthinkable that 25 years later, he would be invited by the Vatican to create work for this year’s Venice Biennale.
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Vatican’s culture and education chief, commented on the choice of Cattelan: “Sometimes, what we initially perceive as too extreme can become a pathway to renew our vision of faith. This is where the Church meets the art world.”
Cattelan will create an outdoor installation in front of the Pavilion at the women’s prison on Giudecca Island in Venice. He will collaborate with eight other artists, including Bintou Dembélé, Simone Fattal, Claire Fontaine, Sonia Gomes, Corita Kent, Marco Perego, Zoe Saldana, Claire Tabouret, and Hans Ulrich Obrist.
A beautiful aspect of this project is the participation of about 80 female inmates. They will be part of a 12-minute short film accompanying the artwork, contribute personal and family photographs as materials for the art piece, and serve as guides during the exhibition. This aligns perfectly with the Venice Biennale 2024 theme, “Stranieri Ovunque—Foreigners Everywhere,” focusing on issues of marginalized people and human rights. The entire project is titled “With My Eyes.”
In a historic first, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the exhibition on April 28, 2024, marking the first time a sitting Pope will attend the Venice Biennale in person.
The Venice Biennale 2024, featuring Maurizio Cattelan’s work at The Holy See Pavilion, is open to visitors from April 20 to November 24, 2024, at the Giudecca Island in Venice, Italy. For ticket information and visiting hours, please check the official Venice Biennale website.
Story By Tae Art Man
Image: “La Nona ora” 1999 Maurizio Cattelan, Photo: Attilio Maranzano, Courtesy Galerie Perrotin
