We Thought We Were Alone

<B>We Thought We Were Alone by Koen Vanmechelen takes visitors on a journey through key themes in the artist's oeuvre: hybridity, identity and survival, through the connection between all forms of life. Accompanies the exhibition of the same title at Venice Biennale from 9 May until 22 November 2026.</B><BR><BR>During the Venice Biennale, Belgian artist and thinker Koen Vanmechelen is presenting a solo exhibition in the historic Palazzo Rota Ivancich. The exhibition, entitled <I>We Thought We Were Alone</I>, spans three floors and takes visitors on a journey through key themes in the artist's oeuvre: hybridity, identity and survival, through the connection between all forms of life. The title, <I>We Thought We Were Alone</I>, refers to the premise that humans are not central to the functioning of the earth, but that every organism has a role to play in a complex system that is actually self-regulating. In addition to the artworks, the book also explores Vanmechelen's long history with the Italian city and the communities that invariably form around his art. It includes a chapter on Wild Gene Festival – the collaboration between the artist and singer Youssou N'Dour – and essays by voices such as human rights expert Manfred Nowak and physicist Thomas Hertog.