The exhibition title, inspired by activist and singer-songwriter Phil Ochs, presents beauty as a force capable of generating intensity, provocation, and transformation. Curated by Dries Van Noten together with Geert Bruloot, the presentation explores craftsmanship as a language of expression and a vehicle for emotion. Fashion, jewellery, design, art, photography, glass, and ceramics enter into dialogue beyond disciplinary boundaries, questioning expectations and conventions. Within the rooms of Palazzo Pisani Moretta, more than two hundred works engage with frescoes, ceilings, and ornamental details, generating juxtapositions and contrasts that accompany visitors from the ground floor to the Piano Nobile. In this interplay of forms, materials, and histories, beauty emerges as a dynamic and questioning presence, while the act of making reveals itself as an ongoing process of research, imagination, and discovery.
The Only True Protest is Beauty features works by:
Adeline Halot, Alexander Kirkeby (Uppercut), Ann Carrington, Armand Louis for Wave Murano Glass, Arthur Vandergucht (Uppercut), atelier lachaert dhanis, Audrey Guimard, Ayham Hassan, Bruno Amadi, Bruno Barbon, Chris Fusaro (Uppercut), Christian Lacroix, Codognato, Comme des Garçons, Ettore Sottsass, Guillermo Santomà (Side Gallery), Hubert Duprat (Art : Concept), Isaac Monté (Spazio Nobile), Joris Laarman (Friedman Benda), Joseph Arzoumanov, Joyce J Scott (Goya Contemporary Gallery), Julien d’Ys, Hyeokjin Jung (Side Gallery), Kaori Kurihara, Kate MccGwire, Katsuyo Aoki, Kiko Lopez (Objects With Narratives), Lionel Jadot (Objects With Narratives), Lilla Tabasso (Galleria Caterina Tognon), Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Misha Kahn (Friedman Benda), Monika Rościszewska, Moreno Schweikle (Uppercut), Nifemi Marcus-Bello (Side Gallery), Odile Gilbert, Pao Hui Kao (Spazio Nobile), Peter Buggenhout (Axel Vervoordt Gallery), Rebecca Manson (Josh Lilley), Richard Štipl (Steinhauser Gallery), Ritsue Mishima (Pierre Marie Giraud Gallery), Seongil Choi (Uppercut), Sophie Buhai (Galerie Anne Sophie Duval), Steven Shearer (David Zwirner and Galerie Eva Presenhuber), Takuro Kuwata (Pierre Marie Giraud Gallery), Václav Cigler (Galleria Caterina Tognon), Virginia Leonard (Side Gallery), Vladimir Slavov (Objects With Narratives), Wendy Andreu (Uppercut), Xavier Mañosa (Side Gallery).
