Homanity: The Hearth of Belonging

As Venice once again becomes the heart of the global art scene during the Biennale, Homanity: The Hearth of Belonging offers a profound reflection on the concept of home, rootedness, and belonging. Curated by Monika Turczyńska, this exhibition by Józef Krzysztof Oraczewski explores the timeless, yet ever-evolving, essence of what it means to belong to a place, a community, and to oneself.

The exhibition's title draws from the ancient idea of the hearth as both a literal and metaphorical center. Every epoch, it is said, needs its fire. Every culture needs its Prometheus — a gesture that provides humanity not just with survival, but with meaning, a sense of belonging, and a connection to the greater whole. The hearth, as the beginning of culture and the first architecture of human life, becomes the grounding element for this exhibition. Oraczewski's monumental works, pulsating with light and movement, evoke the hearth’s transformative power, creating a space that gathers, connects, and opens a horizon of meaning.

In the context of Homanity, the idea of home is not seen merely as a physical structure, but as a dynamic space of shared dwelling in the world. Home, in this sense, is an ongoing process of being — as defined by philosopher Martin Heidegger. To dwell is to be fully present with oneself, with others, and with the surrounding world.

Oraczewski’s art becomes a contemporary hearth, a source of light that enables the viewer to experience a deeper connection to the world, both immediate and eternal. His paintings, rich with symbolism and expression, do not merely decorate the space; they embody the flame itself, illuminating the complexities of identity, belonging, and human existence.

This exhibition is a key part of the international Homanity project, which began as a dialogue between art and architecture. In Venice, a city long regarded as a global community of art, the project takes on particular resonance, drawing on the city’s historical role as a crossroads of culture, exchange, and transformation.