From June 14 to 28, 2025, the 6th Genoa Biennale – International Contemporary Art Exhibition is taking place across the city of Genoa, Italy. As one of the country’s most dynamic cultural initiatives, the Biennale is organized by SATURA and held under the patronage of the Liguria Region, the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Genoa, the Chamber of Commerce, and Genoa’s Ambassadors Worldwide. Curated by Mario Napoli and Flavia Motolese, this year’s edition spans 83 venues, including museums, historic palaces, galleries, and private spaces, and features the work of over 200 artists from 22 countries. The event offers a rich, cross-cultural, and cross-media overview of the global contemporary art landscape.
Among the many participating venues, Galata Museo del Mare presents a special thematic exhibition inspired by the sea, exploring not only its natural symbolism, but also its deeper associations with journeys, transformation, and cultural exchange. The works on display span a range of media, including painting, installation, imaging, and fiber art. Many pieces stand out for their vivid visual language and conceptual complexity. One such work, Internal Vibration, departs from the traditionally heavy and reflective texture of acrylic painting to present a light, pulsating atmosphere of color. Each hue retains its clarity and brightness despite their layering, creating a transparent and rhythmically tense visual experience. Another geometric work, dominated by vibrant reds and intersected by sharp tilts, overlaps, and vanishing points, achieves a striking effect of “frozen time,” prompting viewers to reflect on the relationship between space and consciousness.
Among this year’s jury members is New York–based artist Mosaz (Zijun Zhao), who was invited to serve as one of the distinguished jurors. With an international exhibition record and numerous accolades, Zhao has developed a distinctive voice in contemporary art through her exploration of memory, ritual, and spiritual identity. In the process of evaluating the Biennale entries, she not only engaged deeply with works from a wide array of cultural backgrounds, but also further expanded her understanding of the diverse contexts shaping contemporary art. “The value of contemporary art,” Zhao noted, “increasingly lies in its ability to raise questions and construct ways of seeing, rather than being confined to the completion of form or technique. Art is no longer a closed system of expression, but an ongoing spiritual interaction with the viewer. A successful artwork is often ambiguous and unfinished, as it invites the viewer to participate in its making.”
The jurying process for the 6th Genoa Biennale is characterized by its rigor and inclusivity, with a panel comprising distinguished professionals from across the global art community. As a key figure in the international contemporary art field, Zhao contributed significantly to the evaluation process, not only through her critical perspective but also through the clarity of her aesthetic judgment, playing a vital role in elevating the exhibition’s overall caliber.
Committed to fostering art as a universal language, the Genoa Biennale continues to encourage public reflection and participation through diverse artistic dialogues. At this intersection of culture, history, and contemporary thought, art is no longer merely a means of expression but becomes a bridge for empathy and a platform for connecting perspectives across the world.