Strange Rules. Group Show at Palazzo Diedo, Berggruen Arts & Culture. Opening reception, Venice (Italy), May 4, 2026.
Curated by Mat Dryhurst, Holly Herndon, Hans Ulrich Obrist with Adriana Rispoli.
Artists: Joshua Citarella, Harold Cohen, Primavera De Filippi, Simon Denny with Venkatesh Rao, Stephanie Dinkins, Fabien Giraud, He Zike, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Ho Tzu Nyen, New Models, Ayoung Kim, Agnieszka Kurant, Michael Levin, Trevor Paglen, Philippe Parreno, Lorenzo Senni, Avery Singer, Ken Stanley, sub, terra0. May 4 – November 22, 2026.
Official description: Strange Rules marks a significant evolution in Palazzo Diedo’s mission to serve as a living site of contemporary production which brings the humanities and sciences together. Strange Rules introduces the concept of Protocol Art, a practice that engages with the underlying rules that determine how culture is produced, distributed, and perceived in a digital age. These rules manifest as algorithms, AI models, platforms, technological infrastructure and social convention, hardening through use into the conditions of cultural life. Protocol Art operates at the level of the rule: not only analysing these systems, but seeding new ones. The protocol is not the subject of the art: it is the art. When the protocol is the art, the scientists and researchers authoring such rules become artists. Strange Rules invites them to participate as such. The launch of Strange Rules inaugurates Palazzo Diedo, Venice, as the first space in Italy to foster a reflection on Protocol Art, positioning itself at the forefront of the debate regarding the relationship between art and technology. Alongside the exhibition, a new publication will establish the first comprehensive account of Protocol Art as a field of practice. Research for this landmark volume will unfold throughout the duration of Strange Rules, with Palazzo Diedo serving as both exhibition site and working research environment. Palazzo Diedo Berggruen Arts & Culture is an multidisciplinary venue dedicated to contemporary artistic production. Established by philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen together with the Berggruen Institute Europe based at the Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice, the space serves as a cultural crossroads between East and West. The 18th-century palazzo was designed by Andrea Tirali for one of Venice most prominent families. After previously serving as an elementary school and a courthouse, the building has been restored to its former glory following years of extensive renovation. In 2024, its monumental spaces—adorned with 18th and 19th-century frescoes and stuccowork—were enriched by site-specific commissions from a roster of international artists: Urs Fischer, Piero Golia, Carsten Höller, Ibrahim Mahama, Mariko Mori, Sterling Ruby, Jim Shaw, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Aya Takano, Lee Ufan, and Liu Wei. In 2026, the collection expanded with a new work by Philippe Parreno, created for the exhibition Strange Rules. Conceived in dialogue with the palazzo’s architecture and inspired by traditional Venetian craftsmanship, these contemporary interventions cultivate a continuous exchange between the past and the present while looking toward the future. Strange Rules transforms the historic architecture of Palazzo Diedo into a dynamic laboratory of ideas and a vibrant space. This is brought to life by a series of live events running throughout the Biennale period, starting with Sougwen Chung, followed by Operator, Dustin Yellin, Hito Steyerl and John Chowning.
