A new site-specific project by George Rouy, titled Presence in Form, is on view at Conciliazione 5 in Vatican City from March 20th to June 17th, 2026. As the opening chapter of the 2026 programme, the exhibition introduces Leggere, di nuovo (Reading Again), curated by Donatien Grau.
Created for Via della Conciliazione, the installation comprises a large-scale painting and a sound piece that activates the space at sunset each day. Rouy is known for his layered, energetic compositions and treats painting as a text — something to be read and revisited. Figures and fragments emerge and disappear across the canvas, drawing viewers into an ever-changing interpretation. Sound deepens this experience, turning the work into a living interplay of image, rhythm, and perception.
Site-specific art as an immersive field of meaning
Conciliazione 5 is a platform for contemporary art within Vatican City, founded by the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See. Each project is presented across two locations — one on site and one off site — creating a dialogue that extends beyond the confines of the Vatican.
Following the theme of Hope in 2025, the 2026 programme will explore reading as a means of understanding reality. Rouy opens this new cycle with Presence in Form, positioning painting as a space where body, language, and meaning are in a constant state of flux. Open 24/7, the exhibition invites visitors to experience it over time and to see how their perception of it changes.
Our SS26 edition will feature an interview with George, so don’t miss it and stay tuned!
Photography by FRANCESCO GILI
Courtesy of DICASTERY FOR CULTURE AND EDUCATION
