Stone has always played a critical part in the development of humanity; used in everything from the creation of small intricate objects to some of the world’s largest architectural structures. To celebrate the material’s numerous possibilities and cultural heritage, 'Resistance', an exhibition curated by Guta Moura Guedes, and commissioned by cultural festival experimentadesign and stone research facility Primeira Pedra (First Stone), aims to explore the possibilities of working with Portuguese stone.
Presented during the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, the exhibit invites leading architects Álvaro Siza, Amanda Levete, Bijoy Jain, Elemental and Mia Hägg to investigate the theme of ‘resistance’ through their own personal adaptation of the materials on offer. Portugal has a rich history of extracting marble and limestone, and Primeira Pedra wanted to initiate a research initiative which would investigate the stone’s possible uses and functions. The two materials were selected due to their resistance properties, which subsequently inspired the theme of the show.
The exhibition, which is one of a three-part series, will run over a period of 18 months; 'Resistance', 'Still Motion' and 'Common Sense' will be exhibited in locations such as Venice, London, Milan, New York, Basel and Dubai, drawing to a close in 2018. A second presentation will take place during Art Basel 2017, and will include an exterior exhibition space for the objects, an interior space exhibiting concepts and a showcase for the production processes (which will be accompanied by a film and digital light installation).
Stone has always played a critical part in the development of humanity, used in everything, from the creation of small intricate objects to some of the world’s largest architectural structures. Pictured: Mia Hägg’s stone pieces
The exhibition aims to explore the possibilities and challenges of working with stone, namely Portuguese marble and limestone
One of the main reasons for selecting those two types of natural stone was resistance levels, which also helped inspire the exhibition's name. Pictured: Amanda levete’s stone object
INFORMATION
’Resistance’ will be on view from 25 May until 4 October. For more information, visit the Venice Architecture Biennale website
Photography: Pedro Sadio
ADDRESS
Dépendence Villa Hériot,
Calle Michelangelo 54/P
Giudecca, Venice
-
In Shanghai, Hermès conjures a ‘cosmopolitan explorer’ for its one-off show on the Huangpu RiverNadège Vanhée, artistic director of Hermès’ womenswear collections, presented ‘The Second Chapter’ of her A/W 2025 collection earlier this evening (13 June 2025) against the futuristic skyline of Shanghai
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt was a jam-packed week for the Wallpaper* staff, entailing furniture, tech and music launches and lots of good food – from afternoon tea to omakase
-
Peugeot brings back a classic performance badge for the electric era: meet the E-208 GTiPeugeot has unveiled the new E-208 GTi, a performance EV designed to hark back to a golden age of compact sports cars
-
Porsche and the Norman Foster Foundation rethink the future of mobilityA futuristic Venice transport hub, created with the Norman Foster Foundation for Porsche’s The Art of Dreams programme, is a star of the city’s Architecture Biennale
-
Want to be a Venice pavilion commissioner? Bring ideas – and your RolodexThe impressive showings of the USA's Venice pavilion in the Giardini belie the ambitious fundraising efforts that underpin them. Past and present curators tell us how it works
-
A mesmerising edition of The Dalmore Luminary Series is unveiled in VeniceThe Dalmore Luminary Series sculpture No.3 by Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners, co-curated by V&A Dundee, launches in Venice during the 2025 Architecture Biennale
-
A love letter to the panache and beauty of diagrams: OMA/AMO at the Prada Foundation in Venice‘Diagrams’, an exhibition by AMO/OMA, celebrates the powerful visual communication of data as a valuable tool of investigation; we toured the newly opened show in Venice’s Prada Foundation
-
How was Carlo Ratti’s ‘Intelligens’? Wallpaper* editors discuss the 19th Venice BiennaleHaving visited ‘Intelligens’, the 19th Venice Biennale's main show by curator Carlo Ratti, the Wallpaper* editors discuss what they saw at the world's biggest global architecture festival
-
The 2025 British Pavilion in Venice offered up a Geology of Britannic RepairThe 2025 British Pavilion in Venice is curated by an Anglo-Kenyan team of architects and designers; titled 'GBR: Geology of Britannic Repair', it explores the landscape of colonialism, its past, present and futures
-
A Venice sneak peek into the new Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain by Jean NouvelA new home for Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain by Jean Nouvel will open later this year in Paris; in the meantime, the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 offered the perfect platform for a sneak preview of what's to come
-
Sustainability underpins new Rolex Pavilion at the Venice Architecture BiennaleDesigned by architect Mariam Issoufou, the Rolex Pavilion is full of sustainably-minded soul – here’s what to expect from the building and the exhibit
