The Pavilion of the Holy See returns to the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2026 with a deeply contemplative project titled The Ear is the Eye of the Soul. Presented by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, this ambitious exhibition brings together 24 artists in a multisensory exploration inspired by the life and legacy of Hildegard of Bingen.
Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the Pavilion unfolds across two historic Venetian sites, transforming them into spaces of listening, reflection, and spiritual resonance.
A Sonic Prayer in the Mystic Garden
Set within the secluded Giardino Mistico in Cannaregio, the Pavilion’s first venue invites visitors into an immersive “sonic prayer.” Hidden within a 17th-century convent maintained by the Discalced Carmelite community, the garden becomes a living instrument.
Here, artists including Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith, Meredith Monk, and Terry Riley present newly commissioned sound works. Each responds to Hildegard’s chants, visions, and writings through voice, instrumentation, and silence.
Through headphones, visitors experience a continuously evolving composition orchestrated by Soundwalk Collective, incorporating real-time environmental data—from plant bioelectrical activity to the micro-acoustics of wind, water, and soil. The result is a meditative encounter that aligns with curator Koyo Kouoh’s Biennale vision of slowing down and attuning to quieter registers of perception.
A Living Archive in Castello
Across Venice in Castello, the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice becomes a contemporary scriptorium—reimagining the medieval space of manuscript production as a living archive.
At its core is the final work of Alexander Kluge, completed shortly before his death in March 2026. His twelve-part film and image installation unfolds across three rooms, lending the Pavilion its evocative title, drawn from Hildegard’s writings.
The space also features a curated multilingual library developed in collaboration with the St. Hildegard Academy and Sister Maura Zátonyi, alongside artist books by Ilda David’ and architectural interventions by Tatiana Bilbao with MAIO Architects and DOGMA. The sonic liturgy of the Benedictine nuns of Eibingen Abbey further deepens the spiritual and historical dialogue.
Art, Listening, and the Sacred
Inspired by Hildegard—declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI—the Pavilion positions listening as an act of devotion and artistic inquiry. As Pope Leo XIV recently reflected, art expands possibility beyond the predictable logic of algorithms, inviting openness rather than immediacy.
Commissioned by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, the project continues the Holy See’s evolving presence at the Biennale, building on its architectural initiative Opera Aperta (2025).
Participating Artists (Selection)
The participating artists include: The Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites, Bhanu Kapil, Brian Eno, Carminho, Caterina Barbieri, Devonté Hynes, FKA Twigs, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, Jim Jarmusch, Kali Malone , Kazu Makino, Laraaji, Meredith Monk, Moor Mother, Otobong Nkanga, Patti Smith, Precious Okoyomon, Raúl Zurita, Soundwalk Collective, Suzanne Ciani, Terry Riley and the Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of St. Hildegard Eibingen.
Venues
- Giardino Mistico dei Carmelitani Scalzi, Cannaregio
- Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Castello
Admission
No booking required
With The Ear is the Eye of the Soul, the Holy See Pavilion offers one of the most poetic and conceptually rich contributions to La Biennale di Venezia 2026—a space where art becomes listening, and listening becomes a pathway to the sacred.
