SMAC, a pioneering new arts centre that will present a dynamic programme spanning visual arts, architecture, fashion, technology, and film, will open to the public on 9 May.
SMAC is situated on the second floor of the Procuratie Vecchie in Piazza San Marco and will provide more than 1,000 sq meters of exhibition space, recently restored by Pritzker- prize winning architect David Chipperfield.
Through research, dialogue, and experimentation, SMAC will critically examine contemporary visual culture and its relations with history, science, philosophy, and society. The exhibition programme will be realised in collaboration with world- class international institutions and curators. To coincide with the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2025, SMAC‘s inaugural exhibitions will focus on the careers of two pioneers in their respective fields, the Australian modern architect Harry Seidler, with Migrating Modernism: The architecture of Harry Seidler, and For all that Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators, which presents the work of the Korean landscape architect Jung Youngsun. Beyond the inaugural exhibitions, SMAC will present two to four major exhibitions per year. In the autumn of 2025, Daniel Birnbaum and Jacqueline Davies will come together to co-curate The Quantum Effect at SMAC.
SMAC San Marco Art Centre galleries. Courtesy Generali Real Estate. Photo: Andrea Artoni
SMAC occupies the second floor of the Procuratie, which is owned by Generali, who commissioned the restoration of the entire building from David Chipperfield, reimagining it as a hub of social inclusion and culture, open to the public for the first time in 500 years to provide a place to meet, inspire and discuss the challenges of the future.
SMAC’s state-of-the-art exhibition space is comprised of 16 galleries, arranged along a continuous corridor that stretches in parallel over 80m. There are 58 windows, which overlook the iconic square in Venice with ceiling heights in each of the rooms of 4.5 metres. Visitors will enter the building from Piazza San Marco 105 through Corte Maruzzi, a private courtyard which leads onto a monumental staircase. David Chipperfield’s sensitive restoration of the Procuratie, orchestrated by Generali Real Estate, includes reviving exquisite details that reflect the architectural history of the city while instilling the building with a contemporary vision.
Procuratie. Courtesy of The Human Safety Net. Photo: Alessandra Chemollo
The walls are covered in light grey Venetian marmorino, made from crushed marble, while the floors are white terrazzo. The original doors in the enfilade have been preserved with some galleries containing exposed Renaissance beams. SMAC will be one of only a handful of spaces in Venice with international museum quality conditions that include full climate and humidity control. Two event rooms with Napoleonic-era frescoes will provide the setting for engagement events, which will accompany each exhibition. The events within this strand of SMAC’s programme will cultivate the exchange of ideas between exhibition partners, curators and members of the public.
Migrating Modernism. The architecture of Harry Seidler presents the extraordinary personal history and work of the leading modern architect Harry Seidler [1923 (Vienna) – 2006 (Sydney)], with a particular focus on the artists he worked with and commissioned. The exhibition will feature artists who collaborated on projects with Seidler such as Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, Lin Utzon and Sol LeWitt, as well as the famed Italian structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi.
Australia Square, Sydney, Australia. Architect Harry Seidler. Photo Max Dupain, 1968 © Penelope Seidler
The exhibition is curated by the University of Sydney’s Ann Stephen and Paolo Stracchi, with special advisor Nikolaus Hirsch. It is organised in partnership with the Chau Chak Wing Museum of the University of Sydney. For all that Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators is co-organised with Seoul’s National Museum of Contemporary Art, MMCA.
Harry & Penelope Seidler House, Killara, Sydney, Australia, Photo Max Dupain, 1968 © Penelope Seidler
The exhibition presents the work of Korea’s foremost landscape architect Jung Youngsun, tracing the development of her practice from grassroots activism to ambitious state-led projects such as those for the Seoul Olympics and Incheon International Airport. Jung’s oeuvre illustrates the profound connection between nature, architecture, and human resilience. The exhibition is curated by Jihoi Lee and is made possible by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, commemorating 140 years of cultural ties between Korea and Italy.
Additionally, the opening week will feature a public programme entitled The World Around On Site: Venice Biennale 2025, hosted by SMAC and The World Around, a non-profit organisation that champions the work of architects and designers who are addressing the global challenges of our time. On 8 May, the future of contemporary architecture and design will be discussed in a forum bringing together leading voices from the worlds of arts, culture, architecture, design and technology. The symposium will take place in the auditorium at The Home of The Human Safety Net on the third floor of the Procuratie.
The Quantum Effect is co-curated by Daniel Birnbaum and Jacqui Davies, and will be presented at SMAC in the autumn of 2025. The exhibition will bridge science, art, cinema, architecture, and philosophy, exploring the intersection of quantum science with creative expression. It will examine how quantum theories shape and influence the arts. The exhibition will delve into the spatial and temporal paradoxes of quantum science, drawing inspiration from science fiction and its influence on popular culture, including music videos, video games, and fashion.
SMAC’s location has been made possible due to a landmark agreement with Generali, the owner of the Procuratie, and thanks to the collaboration of Elia Federici and Fresia Re Spa. The third floor of the Procuratie hosts The Home of The Human Safety Net (THSN), with the interactive exhibition ‘A World of Potential’, an immersive journey in which visitors are led to discover their strengths and can connect to the Foundation's programmes. Interactions between The Home of The Human Safety Net and SMAC enable further synergies at the intersection of art and social impact, in the development of initiatives for the local and global community, and in the creation of new partnerships.
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Press release and photos courtesy SMAC
Cover photo Mike Merkenschlager
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