Fratelli
2026 VENICE ART BIENNAL
Shared ascent. Shared force.
Concept
"Fratelli" presents two sharks rising together in a single vertical composition.
Their mirrored heads meet at a precise point of balance, creating both a visual and structural centre.
The work is built around the idea of mutual support. Neither form dominates the other.
Each relies on the other for stability and direction. The sculpture translates the idea of fraternity into physical form.
Material & Surface
The sculpture is fabricated in polished marine grade stainless steel. The mirrored surface reflect light, sky and surrounding architecture, allowing the work to change depending on its environment.
These reflections are intentional. They integrate the sculpture into its setting and create constant visual variation throughout the day. The material ensure durability in exterior conditions while maintaining a refined, high quality finish.
Dialogue
The two forms are independent yet inseparable, rising through a shared axis. Their meeting point is both connection and tension, holding the entire composition in equilibrium.
The sculpture proposes that balance is achieved through exchange, that direction is clarified through proximity, and that strength can be collective rather than singular. In this way, the work speaks about coexistence, support and shared movement.
Statement.
In Fratelli, the sculptural form develops from a relationship of proximity and interdependence. Two animal figures, represented as hammerhead sharks, emerge in a unified configuration that brings distinct identities into relation within a shared structure.
The heads, defined by their archetypal morphology and mirrored surfaces, come into direct contact, creating a point of connection that orients the composition and determines its balance.
The verticality of the work emphasises development and continuity. The upward movement appears as the result of a joint progression, in which each element contributes to the stability and direction of the other, transforming the fraternal bond into a structural principle.
The reflective surfaces expand the perceptual field of the work, integrating the surrounding space and the viewer into the composition. Reflection does not fragment the image but extends it, suggesting that identity is shaped through relationships and exchanges. In this sense, the gaze of the other becomes an active part of the process of constructing the work.
The choice of the animal form introduces a symbolic dimension that resonates across cultures and historical contexts. The hammerhead shark, associated with strength, orientation and environmental perception, becomes a metaphor for growth within a shared condition. The fraternal relationship is presented not as opposition but as dynamic coexistence, capable of generating balance and mutual support.
In Viglino’s practice, characterised by the use of industrial materials and reflective surfaces in dialogue with public and architectural contexts, Fratelli reflects on relationship as a generative force, suggesting that growth and movement emerge through shared strength rather than solitary assertion.
Unfolding Horizon
Shaw & Partners
The world in motion.
Concept
"Unfolding Horizons" presents the world as a symbol of connection, curiosity and shared experience. The sculpture reflects the relationships that link people, places and cultures across the globe.
The rotating sphere suggests movement and discovery. As the globe turns, familiar continents appear and disappear, reminding us that the world is constantly changing while remaining deeply interconnected.
Material & Surface
The sculpture is fabricated in polished marine grade stainless steel, with mirror-finished continents emerging from darkened steel oceans. The contrast between the two surfaces creates a strong visual presence while allowing the work to respond to its surroundings.
At its base, a solid Nero Marquina marble plinth anchors the sculpture. A concealed mechanism allows the globe to rotate smoothly by hand, creating a subtle sense of interaction while preserving the clarity and elegance of the form.
Dialogue
The reflective continents capture fragments of sky, light and movement, drawing the surrounding environment into the sculpture. As conditions change throughout the day, the work continually transforms, creating new perspectives and relationships with its setting.
"Unfolding Horizons" speaks about openness, exchange and the idea that we are all part of something larger than ourselves. It celebrates connection while acknowledging the continual movement and evolution that shape our shared world.
Statement.
"Unfolding Horizons" explores the idea of connection in an increasingly interconnected world. The sculpture presents the globe not as a fixed object, but as a dynamic symbol of movement, exchange and shared experience. Its ability to rotate invites a sense of continual discovery, reflecting the way relationships, cultures and opportunities evolve over time.
The contrast between the polished continents and the darkened oceans creates a dialogue between presence and possibility. The mirrored surfaces capture fragments of the surrounding environment, allowing the work to change with light, weather and the movement of people around it. In this way, the sculpture becomes both a reflection of its setting and a reflection on our place within a larger global landscape.
Anchored by a solid marble base, the work balances permanence with motion. It speaks to the importance of stability while embracing curiosity, openness and exploration. "Unfolding Horizons" celebrates the connections that unite us across distance and reminds us that every horizon offers the potential for new perspectives and shared futures.
Silver Petals
Edition of 30
Renewal. Resilience. Reflection.
Concept
"Silver Petals" captures the delicate beauty and enduring strength of the frangipani flower. The sculpture reflects the idea that resilience is not found in hardness alone, but in the ability to adapt, grow and remain open to the world around us.
The work explores the balance between fragility and strength. Inspired by a flower that blooms repeatedly through changing seasons, the sculpture speaks about renewal, transformation and the quiet confidence that emerges through experience.
Material & Surface
The sculpture is fabricated in marine grade stainless steel with a highly polished mirror finish. Its reflective surface captures the surrounding landscape, drawing in fragments of sky, foliage and light that continually animate the work.
The organic curves of the petals contrast with the strength and permanence of the material. This relationship between softness and durability creates a visual tension that lies at the heart of the sculpture's meaning.
Dialogue
As viewers move around the work, reflections shift and evolve, creating an ever-changing connection between the sculpture and its environment. The mirrored surfaces dissolve the boundary between object and setting, allowing the work to become part of the landscape it inhabits.
"Silver Petals" speaks about vulnerability as a source of strength rather than weakness. It celebrates openness, renewal and the capacity to remain resilient through change, offering a quiet reminder that growth often comes through embracing, rather than resisting, life's continual transformations.
Statement.
"Silver Petals" draws inspiration from the frangipani flower, a form long associated with renewal, beauty and endurance. Enlarged to a monumental scale and rendered in polished stainless steel, the sculpture transforms a familiar natural element into a contemporary symbol of resilience and growth.
The mirrored surface reflects the changing environment, capturing light, movement and the presence of those who encounter it. These shifting reflections ensure that the work is never static, creating an ongoing dialogue between the sculpture, its setting and the wider community.
While the flower appears delicate, its form embodies remarkable strength. This contrast between apparent fragility and lasting endurance lies at the centre of the work. "Silver Petals" celebrates the idea that openness and adaptability are qualities that enable growth, connection and renewal. It is a reflection on the beauty of change and the strength that emerges through embracing it.
50 Valleys
Kheir House
Strength. Movement. Perspective.
Concept
"50 Valleys" explores the relationship between nature and industry through the abstract form of a horse, a timeless symbol of strength, freedom and endurance. Constructed from fifty individual steel layers, the sculpture transforms a familiar figure into a contemporary study of movement and space.
The work captures the energy of the horse without relying on solid mass. Instead, the form emerges through a sequence of parallel contours, creating a sense of rhythm and fluidity that shifts as the viewer moves around the sculpture.
Material & Surface
The sculpture is fabricated in stainless steel and mounted on a solid Red Teak hardwood plinth. The contrast between the precision of the steel and the warmth of the timber establishes a dialogue between industrial craftsmanship and natural materials.
The layered construction creates an open visual structure that allows light, shadow and surrounding elements to pass through the form. As conditions change throughout the day, the sculpture reveals new patterns, depths and perspectives.
Dialogue
The fifty steel contours act as both structure and filter, framing fragments of the landscape and drawing the environment into the work. The sculpture changes continuously depending on the viewer's position, creating an experience that is never entirely fixed.
"50 Valleys" speaks about the balance between power and elegance, solidity and openness. By combining an iconic natural form with contemporary industrial materials, the work reflects the interconnected relationship between the natural world and the environments we create, offering a meditation on movement, perception and transformation.
Statement.
"50 Valleys" is a contemporary interpretation of the horse, a form that has long represented endurance, freedom and the enduring connection between humanity and nature. Through fifty precisely fabricated steel layers, the sculpture reimagines this familiar subject as a study of space, rhythm and perception.
Rather than presenting a solid figure, the work allows the form to emerge through a sequence of parallel contours. Light, shadow and the surrounding landscape become active elements within the sculpture, continually altering its appearance and revealing new perspectives from every angle.
Mounted on a solid Red Teak hardwood plinth, the work brings together industrial precision and natural warmth. This relationship between material, form and environment lies at the heart of the sculpture. "50 Valleys" reflects on the coexistence of strength and grace, permanence and change, creating a work that is both grounded and dynamic, familiar and unexpected.
