‘Shy Society’ Exhibition design by Studio DRIFT – Venice Art Biennale 2026

To mark the 2026 Art Biennale, Venice hosted ‘Shy Society’, a site-specific installation by Studio DRIFT suspended from the façade of Palazzo Balbi Valier, overlooking the waters of the Grand Canal. The work, comprising moving light elements inspired by the natural behaviour of flowers, attracted significant visual and media attention, becoming one of the most photographed and recognisable installations of the Biennale’s opening week. Our involvement centred on carrying out the technical support works for the installation, including the assembly of truss structures along the entire length of the piano nobile, designed to ensure the artistic installation was securely supported. The work was carried out in a particularly sensitive setting, on a historic façade overlooking the Grand Canal directly and visible from the Accademia Bridge and the city’s water traffic. For certain stages of the work, rope access techniques were employed, which were essential for working at height with precision and minimising the impact of the installation on the building and its surroundings. A deliberately discreet yet essential intervention: a concealed technical structure supporting a work of art capable of transforming the façade of Palazzo Balbi Valier into a luminous stage on the Grand Canal for a few days. Design and supervision of installation works: Architect Diana Zabarella; Structural design: Engineer Fausto Frezza.