German artist Olaf Nicolai has installed a functional ice rink titled 'Eisfeld II' within the frescoed grand banqueting hall of the 18th-century Palazzo Diedo in Venice. The installation, which includes a soundtrack by the Berlin band To Rococo Rot and two lightboxes, is a reinterpretation of a work first developed over two decades ago and will be on view until February 22.
The event marks a significant public art intervention by the Berggruen Arts & Culture foundation, which operates from the palazzo, and coincides with the opening of the Winter Olympics in nearby Milan. The installation blends sport, historical architecture, and contemporary art, aiming to engage visitors in a participatory experience that combines physical activity with aesthetic and conceptual reflection, as noted by foundation director Mario Codognato for its mix of gravitas and humor.