Talks at the Venice Biennale | Episode 5. Restoration, resurrection and redemption: the Holy See and Danish Pavilions

'Opera Aperta' (The Open Work) is an essay by Umberto Eco that explores the concept of openness in art. Eco argues that modern artworks are deliberately open to multiple interpretations and require the active participation of the audience to complete their meaning. He examines how this openness challenges traditional notions of authorship and fixed meaning, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between the artwork, the artist, and the interpreter. The essay draws on examples from literature, music, and visual arts to illustrate how artists create works that invite ambiguity and invite diverse readings. Eco's work has been highly influential in the fields of literary theory, art criticism, and semiotics, contributing to discussions about the role of the audience in shaping meaning and the nature of contemporary art.