THE SKYWALK EXHIBITION
A Collateral Event during the Venice Biennale Architettura 2025
Platform Earth, the environmental arts charity founded by Italian-British artist Petroc Sesti, presents THE SKYWALK, a landmark Collateral Event of the Venice Biennale Architettura 2025. Curated by Nadja Romain and in collaboration with TBA21 – Academy’s Ocean Space, THE SKYWALK will be exhibited at La Fucina del Futuro, a cultural laboratory for environmental and scientific inquiry just steps from Ocean Space in the historic Castello district. THE SKYWALK is made possible through the support of Xerjoff, the Turin-based perfume house founded by Sergio Momo and Dominique Salvo.
At La Fucina del Futuro, the exhibition explores THE SKYWALK's design process, ecological imperatives, and artistic origins. Models, projections, and research underscore the vital role of the salt marsh as one of Europe’s most efficient carbon sinks, sequestering carbon at a rate 40 times greater than that of temperate forests. The project unveils a bold architectural vision aimed at reconnecting Venice with its fragile salt marshes, which are Europe’s biodiverse and largely inaccessible ecological treasures.
A centerpiece of the exhibition is a striking six-meter-long architectural model of the Venetian Lagoon, designed by Sesti in collaboration with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP). The model includes floating wetlands, seagrass observation points, bird blinds, and a cultural science gallery, all developed in close partnership with Venice’s scientific community.
In addition to the model, the exhibition showcases artworks in carbon-negative ink by prominent international artists from the Platform Earth’s CARBON Collection, whose practices examine the intersection of art, nature, and science: Marina Abramović, Es Devlin, Conrad Shawcross, Jonathan Yeo, Emilie Pugh and Petroc Sesti.
As a multi-sensory exhibition, the space will be filled with soundscape, mist and infused with scents from Xerjoff's Shooting Star collection perfumes.
Tree Beacon, Petroc Sesti
THE SKYWALK exhibition also features Sesti’s Tree Beacon, a large-scale sculpture situated in Campo San Lorenzo, near La Fucina del Futuro and Ocean Space. This artwork symbolises the urgent need for a permanent connection between culture and conservation, emphasising how creative visions can unite public attention with scientific efforts to restore and protect the natural world. Crafted from hand-poured sheet metal, each component is hand-welded and polished, offering a lightweight, low-carbon alternative to traditional casting.
After its presentation in Venice, Tree Beacon will travel to Belém, Brazil, where it will stand as a symbol of disappearing rainforests at the COP climate conference. Tree Beacon is a direct result of Sesti’s experiences in rainforests, where he worked with forestry scientists using laser scanning technology to document the intricate root systems of towering buttress-root trees. The sculpture stands as a monument to fragile ecosystems worldwide.
Conceived as a living bridge above the salt marshes of the Venetian Lagoon, THE SKYWALK offers a transformative way to experience one of Europe’s most biodiverse landscapes. Envisioned by artist Petroc Sesti in collaboration with environmental economist Laura Onofri (IUAV University of Venice) and developed alongside leading environmental scientists Andrea D’Alpaos (University of Padua) and Adriano Sfriso (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), the proposed walkwayreimagines how infrastructure can foster artistic and educational encounters with the natural world. Designed with architect Ivan Harbour and RSHP (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners), the walkway aims to provide a poetic yet practical response to rising sea levels and biodiversity loss. Supported by an island that will accommodate a hybrid scientific and cultural pavilion, THE SKYWALK presents a living bridge that connects ecological stewardship with architectural innovation.
Sesti has a deep familial connection to Venice. His father lived, studied, and conducted research at the Biblioteca Marciana. Returning annually to the city since childhood, Sesti brings a deeply personal and culturally embedded perspective to the urgent ecological conversation surrounding Venice’s future.
Platform Earth
Platform Earth is a pioneering environmental arts charity focused on science and conservation. We are founded and run by artists and work to harness the power of the arts to shift cultural narratives and develop more symbiotic relationships with nature while directly contributing to conservation and active restoration projects around the world. We create exhibitions, events, and effective educational solutions to help the public experience and contribute to restoring natural habitats. Platform Earth is unveiling new pathways to increase access to nature while providing a greater educational understanding of these beautiful ecosystems and the extraordinary efforts to preserve and restore them.
Petroc Sesti
Petroc Sesti, founder of Platform Earth, is an Italian/British artist whose work pushes the boundaries of art and science. He strongly believes in the power of cultural and environmental storytelling to enact change. His vision for the Skywalk has been driven by the belief that exploring the lagoon firsthand will greatly develop people’s appreciation for its cultural and environmental significance. Sesti is passionate about the educational value of immersive, personal experiences in nature. He aims to inspire the public's sense of discovery, encouraging them to explore the lagoon’s rich biodiversity, flora and fauna; thereby fostering a greater appreciation for this unique ecosystem.
Nadja Romain
Nadja Romain is a curator, producer, and philanthropist bridging contemporary art, craft, and social impact. As founder of Art, Action, Change, she supports socially engaged art, ecological projects, and women’s empowerment. Since moving to Venice in 2020, Romain has championed sustainability, craft preservation, and innovative artistic collaborations.
Xerjoff
Founded by Sergio Momo and Dominique Salvo, was launched to add an innovative dimension to the world of perfumery while respecting and preserving its traditions. The appreciation of beauty is at the heart of Xerjoff's mission. Beauty exists in countless forms. It provokes instinctive emotional reactions and unique sensations. Applying this original approach and sustainably using only the finest raw materials, Xerjoff merges Italian artistic flair with the aromatic wonders of nature, creating truly exceptional perfumes and new, multisensory experiences.
SUPPORTED BY ZERJOFF
WITH THANKS
OUR TEAM
Petroc Sesti
Richard Wadhams
Ruth Ganesh
Hester Finch
Sebastian Mortimer
Honor Cockroft
Lorenzo Rizzo Zenga
VENICE PARTNERS
Nadja Romain
Servane Giol
Laura Onofri
Andrea D’Alpaos
Afriano Sfriso
Universita di Padova
IUAV
Ca’Foscari
OUR SUPPORTERS
Venice Art Factory
TBA-21 Academy
Ocean Space
Ganesh Ramani
Gregory Nasmyth
Olivia Bonner
Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst
Nicole Stott
OUR PARTNERS
RSHP
IBI Logistics
Hallett Independent
Artists First Management
LUX
Genesis Imaging
Coriander Studios
Graviky Labs