Casa Sanlorenzo, the new cultural space in Venice established by the yacht builder Sanlorenzo, has opened its inaugural exhibition. Breathtaking is an installation by the Italian artist and photographer Fabrizio Ferri which reflects on the devastating impact of plastic and microplastic pollution in the oceans—a work that underscores the direct link between marine pollution and its lethal consequences for human life.
The installation was first shown at the Museo di Storia Naturale in Milan earlier this year, where it drew over 40,000 visitors in four days. For its presentation in Venice, Breathtaking includes a new portrait of musician and environmental activist Sting, which joins other famous faces including Helena Christensen, Willem Dafoe, Isabella Rossellini, Susan Sarandon and Naomi Watts, all covered in plastic and detritus. The striking visuals evoke the silent suffocation of marine ecosystems under the weight of plastic pollution.
“Not long ago, I stumbled upon some very disturbing photographs of a seal and a dolphin suffocated by plastic bags,” says Ferri. “Looking at these images I gained a new awareness: the deadly force of the contamination of the seas and oceans that we cause with plastic and microplastics is not only killing the oceans, we are also killing ourselves.”
An image of the musician and activist Sting was added to the installation for this exhibition Artwork © Fabrizio Ferri. Photography © Ugo Carmeni 2025
Breathtaking immerses visitors in the haunting silence of the deep sea. At its centre, a large glass coffin filled with seawater—a potent symbol of the fragility of marine ecosystems and of life itself—stands surrounded by 13 large-scale images, mounted on a black wall with handmade iron nails.
The opening of Breathtaking coincided with both the Venice International Film Festival and the 2025 Architecture Biennale, placing the installation within the wider context of cultural programming in the city this autumn. The opening brought together leading figures from the worlds of yachting, architecture, art and cinema—including award-winning actor Willem Dafoe.
Casa Sanlorenzo, which hosts the exhibition, is located in a restored 1940s villa overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, accessible via the first new pedestrian bridge built in Venice since 2008. The restoration was overseen by Sanlorenzo’s Artistic Director, Piero Lissoni, who designed the space as a site for cross-disciplinary projects focusing on design, environmental awareness and cultural programming.
Casa Sanlorenzo is located in a restored 1940s villa overlooking Venice's Santa Maria della Salute Photography © Ugo Carmeni 2025
“Casa Sanlorenzo is a natural extension of our philosophy, where beauty and responsibility go hand in hand,” says Massimo Perotti, the Executive Chairman of Sanlorenzo, which was founded in 1958 and is the world’s leading mono-brand builder of yachts over 24 metres. “With Breathtaking, we open our doors not only to art but to a deeper conversation about the future of our oceans. This is not just an installation. It is a statement of intent.”
Though best known for his fashion and portrait photography, Ferri has also worked in film and cultural entrepreneurship. In addition to photographing for major publications and brands, he directed the 2022 documentary Portrait of the Queen, and founded the Industria Superstudio complexes in Milan and New York. His work often intersects with social issues, and he has supported campaigns related to children’s education and HIV prevention.
•Breathtaking, Casa Sanlorenzo, Venice, until 23 November
