Joana Vasconcelos opens as a major new exhibition at PM23, the cultural space envisioned by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti in the heart of Rome. Venus is presented by the Fondazione Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, this collaboration explores the aesthetic universe of Valentino through the visionary eyes of Vasconcelos, establishing a dialogue between art, fashion, and the city that remains free from rigid museological frameworks. Renowned for her monumental and highly scenographic installations, the artist develops a non-linear exhibition journey that brings together emblematic works and new site-specific creations. This fluid experience allows art and haute couture to engage as contemporary languages, transforming the historic Piazza Mignanelli into a vibrant hub of cultural exchange where the heritage of Valentino Garavani is reinterpreted through a bold, modern lens.
The pulsating heart of the exhibition is the Valkyrie Venus, a work created through an ambitious participatory process involving over 200 contributors across Lisbon and Rome. By bringing together students, artisans, and diverse communities, this sculpture transforms the idea of a garment into a symbolic gesture of empowerment and collective resistance, serving as a powerful vehicle for the transmission of traditional know-how. The resonance of the show extends beyond the walls of PM23 via a constellation of public installations, including I’ll Be Your Mirror at Piazza Mignanelli, Solitaire at Terrazza del Pincio, and Drag Race at the Ara Pacis.
These interventions establish an ongoing dialogue between contemporary art and the Roman urban landscape, positioning art as a tool for re-signification and solidarity while reinforcing the profound connection between architecture and the public sphere.
