Ilya and Emilia Kabakov present Venetian Diary exhibition featuring Venetians' stories and objects
Updated
Updated · E-Flux · Apr 27
Ilya and Emilia Kabakov present Venetian Diary exhibition featuring Venetians' stories and objects
2 articles · Updated · E-Flux · Apr 27
The exhibition opens May 9–June 28, 2026 at Ca’ Tron and the Venetian Pavilion, showcasing contributions from approximately 550 Venetians across generations and backgrounds.
Participants provided diary entries and personal objects, creating a collective portrait of Venice through thematic vitrines. The project highlights everyday Venetians, emphasizing inclusivity and the city's social complexity.
Organized with BAM and under the Municipality of Venice's patronage, the exhibition coincides with the 61st Venice Biennale, honoring Ilya Kabakov three years after his passing and continuing the duo's immersive artistic legacy.
Does turning 550 personal stories into art truly honor Venetians or just create another spectacle for tourists?
Will this intimate 'diary' of residents be overshadowed by the Biennale's controversies and grand pavilion reopening?
How does this community project align with the posthumous vision of Biennale director Koyo Kouoh for an art of 'intimacy'?
As Venice grapples with its future, can 550 personal diaries offer a real blueprint for the city's survival?
Why split a unified diary across two separate venues? What does this physical division signify for the project's narrative?