Wallace Chan, Vessels of Other Worlds

Wallace Chan presents Vessels of Other Worlds, a dual-site exhibition spanning Venice and Shanghai. Curated by James Putnam, the project introduces a new body of monumental titanium sculptures that expand the artist’s long-standing exploration of transformation, light, and transcendence.

The first chapter opens within the Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà, where three central sculptural ‘vessels’ are surrounded by suspended forms resembling drops in motion. Drawing on the symbolism of sacred oils and the cycles of life, the installation merges religious references with speculative, almost otherworldly forms, creating a fluid environment between the tangible and the immaterial. A triptych of video works positioned on the altar acts as a conceptual bridge to the second chapter at the Long Museum West Bund, where the sculptures reappear at monumental scale. There, the works become immersive structures, inviting viewers to enter and experience their reflective, kaleidoscopic interiors, extending Chan’s exploration of perception and illusion.