anish kapoor: ascension in venice 2011

‘ascension’ by anish kapoor, basilica di san giorgio, venice image by oak taylor-smith

‘ascension’ is a site-specific installation by anish kapoor, presented as a collateral event of the venice art bienniale 2011. exploring the transience of smoke, the work creates a tangible, rising column of the traditionally immaterial substance. previously exhibited in gallery spaces in san giminiano (italy), in sao paolo and rio de janiero (brazil), and in beijing (china), the work takes on new meaning in the spiritual context of venice’s basilica di san giorgio.

‘in my work, what is and what seems to be often become blurred. in ascension, for example, what interests me is the idea of immateriality becoming an object, which is exactly what happens in ascension: the smoke becomes a column. also present in this work is the idea of moses following a column of smoke, a column of light, in the desert…’  anish kapoor

‘ascension’ detail image © designboom

base detail image © designboom

the column rises from a circular base placed at the intersection of the basilica’s transept and nave, with four surrounding pillars lined with fans to elevate the smoke. though ventilation from the church’s doorways diffused the smoke, its dispersion of light made it still visible in the daytime.

image © designboom

supporting fans image © designboom

artist anish kapoor portrait courtesy of arte continua

presented in partnership with italian coffee producer illy, the exhibition also included his design for the company’s art collection, a porcelain cup and saucer customized with his trademark of reflective surfaces.  

anish kapoor for the illy art collection image © designboom

with alternative placement of the saucer placed on top of the cup, the platinum lining creates a void