Venice at Expo Osaka 2025: Art, Innovation, and Future

The Italian Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025

Art gallery Venice aligns with the theme of Expo Osaka 2025 – “Designing Future Societies for Our Lives” – as the Italian Pavilion will present “an Italian vision of social space based on integration, inclusivity, and a culture of ‘doing’ grounded in real relationships and interactions, well-represented by deeply rooted concepts in our tradition of ‘piazza’, ‘theater’, and ‘garden’.”

Located in the Saving Life District within Lot A9, the pavilion will showcase Italy through its excellences: cutting-edge technology, scientific research, classical and contemporary artworks, design and craftsmanship, music, and live performances. These expressions of human talent and the Italian way of fostering intercultural dialogue will be central to the pavilion’s narrative.

Exploring the Italian Pavilion at Expo Osaka: From Piazza to Theater to Rooftop Garden

Visitors will embark on a sensory journey starting from a grand arcade leading to a wooden immersive theater, where nightly dance and music performances by both Italian and Japanese artists will take place. This open-air theater connects to a piazza, designed as a bustling outdoor workshop. As visitors move forward, they will enter the exhibition halls, the heart of the pavilion, which also includes a secondary section dedicated to accessory functions. On the rooftop, where the Eataly restaurant will be located, guests will be surprised by a contemporary Italian Garden, a modern reinterpretation of the ancient labyrinth, designed with geometric precision. This garden, featuring sculptures, fountains, plants, and a path that blends the natural with the artificial, will provide a unique experience for all.

Ancient Art, Contemporary Installations, and Technology at Expo Osaka

Inside the pavilion, the arcade will be dedicated to artisans from all Italian regions, showcasing the country’s craftsmanship. At the center of the piazza, visitors will find the Farnese Atlas, symbolically positioned at the intersection of all the pavilion’s sections: the I (individual), We (society), Territory, and Spirituality (this section will feature the Holy See for the first time in the pavilion’s history during the Jubilee year). The “I” section will focus on projecting a vision of a better future through the fusion of art and technology. Contemporary art installations related to health and the environment will be featured, including works by Jago, Oriana Persico, and Francesca Leone that explore the intersection of art, science, and technology. Artificial intelligence will also play a role, demonstrating the potential for responsible use. The “We” section will highlight Italy’s major infrastructure and social projects, including design, architecture, and engineering projects tied to both the territory and upcoming major sporting events. The “Territory” section will rotate regional showcases, celebrating Italy’s diverse areas.

One of the most anticipated works on display will be Caravaggio’s The Deposition of Christ, arriving in Japan through the Holy See. It will be presented at the center of the Spirituality space, displayed just 30 centimeters from the ground for a close-up viewing experience.

The Atlantic Code of Leonardo Da Vinci at the Italian Pavilion

The Italian Pavilion will also feature four drawings from Leonardo Da Vinci’s Atlantic Code, which will be rotated throughout the duration of the Expo. These drawings, part of the Ambrosiana Library’s collection since 1637, will be displayed in Japan through a collaboration with the City of Milan, which has worked on the “Milan and Leonardo” project to promote Da Vinci’s legacy internationally. Additionally, the Portrait of Ito Mancio by Tintoretto, recently discovered, will be showcased. The painting depicts a Kyushu prince, who led a delegation of four young Japanese nobles sent to Europe by Jesuit Father Alessandro Valignano. This piece will be paired with Arturo Ferrarin’s airplane, which in 1920 flew from Rome to Tokyo over 18,000 kilometers in 109 hours.

Japan has already shown great interest in the Italian Pavilion, as a survey conducted by Kansai TV revealed that it is the most anticipated pavilion by the Japanese public.

A Week That Celebrates Venezia’s Soul

The Universal Exposition will bring together over 150 countries on the artificial island of Yumeshima, in the bay of Osaka, Japan. Among the major international players, Venezia will take center stage during the opening week of the Italian Pavilion, bringing a narrative that celebrates its historical legacy and forward-thinking vision for the future and offering the world a compelling narrative that bridges art, culture, technology, and sustainability.

With the title “About Venezia – The Most Ancient Smart City”, the lagoon city presents itself as a living laboratory, where beauty becomes regenerative, tradition meets innovation, and centuries of heritage shape visions for the future.

As Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stated, “Venezia is not just historic heritage—it is also innovation and research. Expo Osaka will be a unique opportunity to strengthen the ties between Venezia and Japan, between Italy and Asia, and reaffirm the international role of a city that, for over a thousand years, has been a meeting point between cultures, languages, and worldviews.”

An Immersive Exhibition Space to Explore Venezia

At the heart of Venezia’s presence in Osaka is an immersive exhibition space curated by Iuav University of Venice, designed to highlight the city’s cultural and technological excellence. Visitors entering the Italian Pavilion will find themselves surrounded by an ethereal and iconic vision of Venezia, brought to life through dynamic video projections that reveal glimpses of the lagoon city’s historic beauty.

As Iuav’s Rector Benno Albrecht explains, “The setup uses layered projections and images to tell the story of Venezia as a place of knowledge, innovation, and future vision.” The result is a highly sensory and symbolic experience that perfectly aligns with the overall theme of Expo 2025.

Cultural Programming and International Dialogues

The opening day, April 13, will mark the official launch, followed by a rich calendar of cultural events and discussions:

• April 14, 11:00 AM – The Cultural System of Venezia, curated by Fondazione di Venezia, with a spotlight on Museo M9 and the city’s museum network.
• 3:00 PM – A conversation with H-FARM on the role of AI in cultural narratives.
• 4:30 PM – A roundtable on the lagoon, port, and sustainability, led by the Port Authority and the Venice Sustainability Foundation.
• 7:00 PM – A showcase of local excellence in food and craft, presented by the Venice-Rovigo Chamber of Commerce and AEPE.

On April 15, in collaboration with Italy’s Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the sixth edition of the Venice Boat Show will be presented, scheduled to open at the Arsenale from May 29 to June 2, 2025.

Throughout the week, the exhibition space will also host:

• A sound installation by Biennale Musica, designed to transform sound into immersive art;
• A display of iconic objects from the city’s past, including the Bucintoro, the Winged Lion, Murano glass, and 18th-century Venetian fashion;
• A project by H-FARM that uses artificial intelligence to offer future scenarios for Venezia;
• Workshops on gastronomy, urban regeneration, and sustainable tourism.

Youth, Academia, and Green Innovation

Venezia’s academic institutions are key players in this initiative. Ca’ Foscari University will be represented by students of the Department of Asian and North African Studies, acting as cultural and language mediators for international visitors. Venice International University will present the project Navigating the Archipelago of Venezia: Lagoon Stories for a Sustainable Future, inviting reflection on the delicate balance between land and water.

The city’s commitment to sustainability will be represented by the Venice World Capital of Sustainability Foundation and various environmental authorities, aligning with Expo 2025’s core theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

An International Platform for Venezia’s Future

Expo 2025 Osaka offers Venezia a powerful platform for global communication and strategic outreach. It’s a rare chance to elevate the city’s profile on the world stage, build new partnerships across continents, and show how a city of ancient roots can lead the way toward sustainable, creative futures.

Mayor Brugnaro concludes: “Venezia is always moving forward. Expo is not just an event—it’s a stage on which to reassert our city’s role as a global hub of art, innovation, and dialogue. We are ready to share our story with the world.”