Media Release
CALCULATING EMPIRES WINS SILVER LION AT 2025 VENICE BIENNALE
Powerhouse, Sydney is proud to announce that Calculating Empires: A Genealogy of Technology and Power Since 1500 — an ambitious installation by internationally acclaimed artists and researchers Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler and presented in partnership with Powerhouse — has been awarded the Silver Lion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
Unveiled at Biennale’s weekend opening, the large-scale visual manifesto Calculating Empires explores the complex relationship between technology and power across five centuries. Spanning more than 24m long and 3m high, this ambitious work charts a global history of control — from colonial expansion and militarisation to automation and artificial intelligence — revealing how the legacies of empire continue to shape today’s digital infrastructures.
Powerhouse, Sydney is a proud partner on the presentation of this landmark work, which aligns with the institution’s mission to champion cross-disciplinary inquiry, cultural dialogue, and the global impact of Australian-led research and artistic practice. A reimagined version of Calculating Empires will be presented at Powerhouse, Sydney as part of an international tour of the work.