Lorenzo Quinn lends his 'Support' in Venice

Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale has been one of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions for over 120 years. Each year, the event sees artists from around the word exhibit their work to 500,000 visitors. And in 2017, one artwork certainly had tongues wagging. 

The momumental Support sculpture from Lorenzo Quinn saw two large hands emerging from the Grand Canal to protect and support the historic Ca’ Sagredo Hotel. Symbolising tools that can both destroy and save the world, the hands served to emphasise the role people must play in supporting Venice's unique world heritage. 

"Venice is a floating art city that has inspired cultures for centuries," the Italian artist explains. "But to continue to do so, it needs the support of both our and future generations, as it is threatened by time decay and climate change."

After touching the hearts of crowds, Lorenzo was featured in publications across the globe, including the Telegraph, Evening Standard, Spiegel Online and Vice. Named the 'most Instagrammable' artwork of the year, Support highlighted his skill for depicting the most technically challenging part of the human body. 

Click here to watch a video of the installation on our affiliate Halcyon Gallery's website.