VENICE, TODAY WE’RE LOOKING AT ART… THROUGH OUR GLASSES!

You move closer to an object, shift your position slightly, and something seems to move. A shade, a line, a pattern that looked different a moment ago. That is part of the pleasure of optical illusions: they remind us that looking can be a curious activity, full of little surprises. When the object happens to be a pair of glasses, the game gets even more interesting. And this time, it takes us to Venice.

Etnia Barcelona and Felipe Pantone call their collaboration Prisma Scissura. In Venice it meets Etnia House of Arts, in the former church of the Abbazia della Misericordia in Cannaregio. Glasses, colour and a space for art: plenty to look at.

An accessory with a changing expression

The collaboration is called Prisma Scissura. The brand describes it as a limited edition of one thousand numbered pieces, with two different sets of interchangeable temples. One plays with colour gradients, the other with moiré: the visual effect in which repeated patterns can create an impression of vibration or movement. There is no screen glowing inside the frame. The effect comes from the materials and the design.

The brand describes colour built by layering acetate. Looking at the edge as well as the front becomes part of the fun: change position and see how the shades meet. An accessory worth a few extra seconds of looking.

Take a look from the side, too

When an accessory catches our attention, we often stop at the front-facing photograph. Instead, try looking for the profile, the hinge, the transition between two colours. An object we wear exists in three dimensions: people see it as we walk, talk and turn our heads. Its relationship with light can matter as much as that first impression.

You do not need a design vocabulary to notice something you like. You might say, “this part seems deeper”, “the colour changes here”, or “I’m curious about how it is made”. Then, if you want to, compare your impression with the artist’s explanation. It is a pleasant way to approach a project without feeling obliged to find the perfect words straight away.

A Venetian home for artists

Etnia House of Arts runs a programme of creative residencies. Artists are invited to work with an unusual medium: glasses, interpreted as wearable artworks. The official website describes opportunities for the public to engage with the creative process. In the current calendar, MOODY and Paul Kostabi are listed from 20 October to 1 November 2026.

Check the venue’s current programme and access information before visiting. Choose an activity that catches your interest: you might discover an unfamiliar artist as well as an unusual Venetian space.

In Venice? Here is where to start

Find it at Campo de l’Abbazia, Cannaregio 3548–3549. Listed hours are 10am–6pm, closed Mondays. Contact the venue to plan your visit and find out about the artists’ programme.

You could prepare one simple question: what changes when an artwork also has to be worn? Glasses must meet a face and move with a person. That opens up questions about weight, shape, colour and the relationship between function and experimentation. A visit can become a little exercise in paying attention, instead of a race to take a photograph to post.

A statement frame meets everyday life

If the project makes you want to try more expressive glasses, start with your own habits. Which clothes would you wear them with? Do you enjoy having colour close to your face? Are you comfortable with a bold shape? In the shop, pay attention to comfort as well as the mirror. The artistic connection is one part of the decision, alongside the model’s measurements and features.

The capsule comprises a thousand numbered pieces. If you fall for a frame, try it carefully: nose weight, temples and colour near the face. Ask the optician about suitable lenses. Surprise is lovely; comfort stays with you all day.

A little art, without having to buy

The collaboration’s official images and film let you explore materials and making from a distance. Pause on a detail: a line, a layer, colour seen from the side. Some ideas deserve attention even when they stay off our shopping list.

Perhaps what you take away will be an idea to try with something you already own: pairing two colours, looking at an accessory from another angle, or visiting a cultural space you did not know. Venice provides the setting; a pair of glasses suggests the game. For once, changing your perspective can begin simply by taking the time to look.