Rudolf Stingel

Rudolf Stingel was given carte blanche to transform the Venetian palace in a masterstroke. A carpet with an oriental pattern celebrated the city's glorious past. In addition to this huge immersive installation, the show featured around 30 paintings from the Pinault Collection or on loan from international museums. Their size and materiality participated in reversing the usual spatial relationship between viewer and painting. Transfigured, the Palazzo Grassi became a quiet, welcoming place of meditation.
 
"Rudolf Stingel" was one in the programme of the Palazzo Grassi's solo shows of works by major contemporary artists that began in April 2012 with Urs Fischer ("Madame Fisscher"). It was a milestone: for the first time since its acquisition by the Pinault Collection, the entire palace hosted a show by one artist.