IN-BETWEEN _ La Biennale di Venezia 2025
We are proud to announce our collaboration with the Japanese architecture studio SUNAKI for the exhibition IN-BETWEEN, on view at the Japan Pavilion during the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2025.
282 x 200 x H 80 cm
2025 — Japan Pavilion, La Biennale di Venezia
Mirror Polished Copper with Patinas, Solid Wood Plates, Steel Legs.
The result of this collaboration is the Reflective Saucer, an evocative object that weaves together material memory with contemporary craftsmanship.
An enigmatic elliptical shape that follows the Japanese silver ratio, made from wood and steel, with a reflective copper surface with a complex double curvature and wavy finish on top.
The Reflective Saucer draws inspiration from some fragments of majolica unearthed during the 1956 excavations for the construction of the Japan Pavilion.
These elements are reinterpreted in a mirror-like finish with an organic patina pattern that bridges past and present, and also functions as a lighting element in the pilotis space, strategically reflecting the conical spotlight beam upward through a hole, casting its shadow onto the gallery ceiling.
The patina pattern on the copper surface, developed through Alcarol’s latest research into the expressive and transformative potential of metal surfaces, embodies a unique material narrative, one that captures the passage of time while enhancing tactile and visual depth.
As the name suggests, the Reflective Saucer acts as both a mirror and a source — an invitation to contemplation, a portal between what is visible and what is unseen. The piece resonates deeply with the curatorial theme IN-BETWEEN, creating an immersive space that invites literal and metaphorical reflection on the coexistence of past and present, nature and artificiality.
Alcarol’s contribution embodies this vision: a poetic artifact that speaks of the fragility of matter, the richness of history, and the possibility for new meanings to emerge from the in-between spaces.
Curated by Jun Aoki, the IN-BETWEEN exhibition explores what lies in the interstitial spaces between people, materials, memories, and places. It champions collective creation, reuse, and subtle transformation, presenting the pavilion itself as a site of cultural negotiation and architectural performance. The viewer becomes an active part of this open-ended, evolving relationship.
Highlights from
In dialogue with architects, designers and collectors, we shape bespoke pieces — where matter becomes language and creation is always a shared exploration.