When you think of the Vatican, you probably picture ancient frescoes, hushed reverence, and maybe a very specific hat. What you might not picture is an FKA Twigs sound installation or a new piece by Brian Eno.
But that's exactly what's happening at this year's Venice Biennale. The Vatican Pavilion, not one to shy away from unexpected collaborations, has commissioned a roster of avant-garde artists — including Eno, Twigs, Jim Jarmusch, and Patti Smith — to create a "sonic prayer."
The Ear Is the Eye of the Soul
The entire exhibition, rather poetically titled "The Ear Is the Eye of the Soul," is a deep dive into the art of listening. And the muse? None other than Saint Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th-century abbess, composer, and mystic who apparently had a lot to say about sound.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxVisitors will get to wander through the rather idyllic-sounding Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites, headphones on, absorbing soundscapes that riff on Hildegard's chants and visions. Imagine, for a moment, listening to something utterly modern and deeply spiritual, all while surrounded by ancient garden vibes. It's a vibe.
The curators, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers, with the help of Soundwalk Collective, aimed to create a space that forces people to slow down. Which, in a world of endless scrolling, feels less like an art exhibition and more like a public service.
Pope Leo XIV even dropped a quote that helped shape the concept: "The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what ‘works,’ but art opens up what is possible. Not everything has to be immediate or predictable.” Let that sink in for a second. The Vatican, subtly shading your TikTok feed.
Beyond the garden, the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice will host the final work from the late German filmmaker Alexander Kluge, alongside an archive of Hildegardian texts and new monastery architecture. Because apparently, even monasteries need a design refresh.
Other notable names contributing to this auditory smorgasbord include Devonté Hynes, Laraaji, Kali Malone, Suzanne Ciani, and even the Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of St. Hildegard Eibingen. Because, naturally, you can't have a Hildegard-inspired exhibit without the actual nuns.
This isn't the Vatican's first foray into the unexpected at the Biennale. Last year, their pavilion at a women's prison, featuring work by Maurizio Cattelan and inmates, also turned heads. Clearly, the Holy See is leaning into its experimental phase, and honestly, we're here for it.
