The Dries Van Noten Foundation presents its inaugural exhibition "The Only True Protest Is Beauty" in collaboration with Codognato

The Dries Van Noten Foundation inaugurates its opening with the exhibition “The Only True Protest Is Beauty”, created in collaboration with Codognato and curated by Dries Van Noten together with Geert Bruloot. Scheduled from April 25 to October 4, 2026, the exhibition explores craftsmanship as an expressive language and a vehicle for emotion, transcending disciplinary boundaries and unfolding as a constellation of encounters between established and emerging talents.

Installed between the ground floor and the first and second levels of the Piano Nobile of Palazzo Pisani Moretta, the exhibition unfolds through 20 rooms arranged intuitively. More than 200 works interact with the architecture and history of the palace, constructing a narrative guided more by instinct than by rigid logic. Pieces from the archives of historic fashion maisons are presented alongside contemporary textile works, highlighting the enduring role of textiles as a medium of cultural expression.

The dialogue with the palace emerges from the very beginning: in the first hall of the Piano Nobile, the ceiling depicting The Triumph of Light over Darkness by Jacopo Guarana, a pupil of Giambattista Tiepolo, frames photographs by Steven Shearer portraying sleeping subjects, which enter into dialogue with the memento mori jewels by Codognato and haute couture creations by Christian Lacroix and Comme des Garçons.

In this context, Codognato is the only jeweller featured. The maison presents 15 pieces personally selected by Dries Van Noten, balancing heritage and innovation: some come from historic collectors, while others were created specifically for the exhibition. Taken together, they embody the distinctive aesthetic of the maison, rooted in tradition yet open to contemporary experimentation. Seven of the pieces on display are available for purchase.

«As Venetians, we are thrilled that Dries Van Noten has chosen Venice for his new foundation. It represents an extraordinary addition to the city's cultural offering. We are also happy and deeply honoured to have been chosen to represent the millennial Venetian artisanal tradition in the foundation’s inaugural exhibition», declare Mario and Cristina Codognato.

The participation highlights the unique position of Codognato within the landscape of artistic jewellery and the international recognition of its approach, where symbolism, history and artisanal mastery intertwine. In this context, the exhibition emerges as an open space for dialogue between fashion, jewellery, art, design, photography, glass, ceramics and material experimentation, in a shared reflection on the capacity of beauty to challenge norms and subvert dogmas.