Stunning Ice Rink You Won’t Want to Miss This Winter in Venice
100-square-metre installation by Olaf Nicolai transforms the frescoed hall of Palazzo Diedo into a conceptual skating spectacle
Venice’s Palazzo Diedo has a new reason to visit this winter. Olaf Nicolai’s Eisfeld II turns the palazzo’s grand banqueting hall into a 100-square-metre ice rink, where contemporary art meets movement, music, and light. Visitors skate to a specially composed soundtrack by Berlin band To Rococo Rot, while Nicolai’s lightboxes ENJOY/SURVIVE I & II frame the experience, exploring the balance of pleasure and perseverance.
Originally developed over 20 years ago, Eisfeld II has been reimagined for Palazzo Diedo’s frescoed first floor. The installation is playful yet conceptually rich, combining Nicolai’s fascination with patterns, algorithms, and everyday objects with the grandeur of 18th-century Venice. The effect is immersive, surprising, and utterly unique — a creative encounter you can glide through.
Born in Halle/Saale in 1962, Nicolai is one of Germany’s leading contemporary artists. His work stretches from artificial landscapes and enlarged consumer goods to installations that blend science, humour, and reflection on modern life.
Mario Codognato, Director of Berggruen Arts & Culture, said:
“I remember seeing the ice-skating rink and Olaf’s installation in a museum in Zurich about 25 years ago. I was amazed by its combination of gravitas and humour. It takes into account so many themes and questions of modern art. It is great to be able to represent it in an 18th century palazzo in Venice.”
Running 13 December 2025 – 22 February 2026, Eisfeld II is a must-see for anyone visiting Venice this winter — a chance to experience contemporary art in motion, under ceilings that have witnessed centuries of history.
Palazzo Diedo Berggruen Arts & Culture, Fondamenta Diedo, Cannaregio 2386, Venezia
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.