Artist Abbas Akhavan has transformed the Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale into a functioning greenhouse for his exhibition "Entre chien et loup." The pavilion now houses a 6,000-gallon pool containing giant Victoria water lilies, with modifications including grow lights, water misters, a new ventilation system, and structural reinforcements to support the 25-ton water tank. The installation evokes Victorian-era Wardian cases and London's Crystal Palace, but Akhavan emphasizes that his interest in the lilies began intuitively, not as a commentary on colonialism or empire. The project, developed with curator Kim Nguyen, involved collaboration with Kew Gardens and the Orto Botanico di Padova to cultivate the plants, and the outcome remains uncertain as the lilies may thrive or wither over the exhibition's six-month run.
This exhibition matters because it challenges viewers to set aside preconceived notions about conceptual art and colonial narratives, instead inviting them to experience the plants as unburdened natural objects. Akhavan's surrender to nature—acknowledging that the lilies may not survive—introduces an element of vulnerability and unpredictability rarely seen in national pavilions at the Venice Biennale. The project also redefines the relationship between architecture and nature, treating the pavilion's existing tree as inspiration rather than an obstacle, and underscores the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in realizing ambitious, living artworks.