When the 2017 Venice Biennale kicked off in May, it didn't take long for one of its pieces to go viral. Artist Lorenzo Quinn's massive installation entitled "Support" immediately made waves in the canal waters of Venice, Italy, literally, as a bold visual statement about the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels on the iconic city.

"Support" depicts a giant pair of hands rising from the canal waters outside the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel as if to bolster it from slipping further into an aqueous resting place. It's an ominous scene made even more powerful by the urgent movement Quinn has infused into the lifelike pair of hands. According to This Is Colossal, Quinn "is known for his work with the human body—specifically hands—that he incorporates into everything from large-scale sculptures down to jewelry designs."

'SUPPORT' Powerful installation in Venice by Lorenzo Quinn highlighting the very real threat to the city caused by climate change . . Tag a friend and help spread this very important message 🙏 Full project credits on @lorenzoquinnartist #visualfodder 💙

A post shared by Visual Fodder 💎 (@visual.fodder) on May 13, 2017 at 4:56am PDT

The Venice Biennale, one of international art's biggest events, is where art lovers and the “who's who” of the art world flock to see new trends and ground-breaking works by the greatest artists of our time and others whose names are barely known outside their home countries. For an issue like climate change, which is a very real threat in a place like Venice, the Venice Biennale is an indispensable platform for raising awareness thanks to its monumental scale and prestige.

The 2017 Venice Biennale runs through November 26, 2017.