Shifting Waters

As a contribution to Biennale Arte 2026, the ERES Foundation presents the group exhibition “Shifting Waters”, running from 9 May to 28 June 2026, and resuming from 4 September to 1 November 2026. The showcase brings together seven internationally established artists to explore the evolving relationship between humans and water cycles—the basis of all life.

Set in Venice, a city profoundly shaped by water, the exhibition reflects on the lagoon as a site where nature and culture continuously intersect. Built on fragile ground and exposed to tides and flooding, Venice becomes a paradigm for adaptation in the face of global environmental change, where rising waters and climate instability redefine the balance between the hydrosphere and human activity.

“Shifting Waters” unfolds as a fluid dialogue between artistic positions that evoke both the struggle with natural forces and the poetic dimension of water. Sculptures, images and installations create a layered environment where organic forms, submerged worlds and remnants of human intervention coexist, suggesting new ways of understanding and responding to water’s transformative power.

From reflections on Venice’s maritime history to immersive underwater imaginaries and meditations on climate change, the works engage with water as both material and metaphor.

Together, they articulate a continuous state of flux, pointing to water as a force that shapes not only landscapes but also future modes of living.