Venice Biennale Preview Opens, Russian Pavilion Faces Fierce Protests
The Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale reopened after years of closure due to the pandemic and the Ukraine war, but faced intense protests from groups like Pussy Riot and Ukrainian human rights organizations, questioning the legitimacy of the exhibition and the political neutrality of art.
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Venice, May 6 (CNA correspondent Huang Ya-shi) — The Venice Art Biennale's preview opened today for three days. The re-participation of the Russian Pavilion, which had been closed for many years due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, sparked controversy. Multiple protest groups gathered today at the entrance of the Russian Pavilion, including the well-known Russian dissident women's group 'Pussy Riot' and the Ukrainian feminist organization 'Femen.' A large police presence outside the pavilion created a tense atmosphere.
A CNA reporter visited the Russian Pavilion in person, where crowds surged at the entrance, and protest voices could be heard from afar. In the evening, two young Ukrainian female artists, Weronika Zalewska and Marta Romankiv, who live in Poland, held up posters and played daily air raid siren sounds from their phones, attempting to persuade visitors not to enter the Russian Pavilion.
Zalewska told CNA that she found it completely unacceptable watching many people casually entering the Russian Pavilion to enjoy the lively musical performances inside, which resembled a nightclub. As an artist, she stated, 'The Venice Biennale, as an art venue, should not become a space for whitewashing, defending genocide, or claiming everything is legitimate.'
Zalewska further stated that the art world, while chanting 'decolonization,' only seeks to profit from these terms. She pointed to the Venice Biennale's allowance for Russia and Israel to participate, countries that wage war without being held accountable. 'The Biennale sings about art not being politicized, that we are all one big family, and yet it gives aggressive nations beautiful spaces to display, ignoring that our territory is still occupied and bombed daily.'
The Russian National Pavilion had been closed for seven years at the Venice Biennale due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. This year, the Russian Pavilion is open to media and art professionals during the preview from May 6 to 8. However, in response to EU sanctions, the Russian Pavilion will not be open to the public during the official opening of the Biennale from May 9 to November, and its content will instead be broadcast on large screens via video recordings.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of the Venice Biennale Board, has recently become a target of criticism for not blocking Russia's participation. The EU sent a second warning yesterday, stating that the Venice Biennale should not become a showcase for Russia. The Italian Minister of Culture also did not attend the preview opening ceremony.
Buttafuoco stated at today's opening press conference, 'The mission of art and cultural work is freedom and boldness, and we have achieved that. In Venice, we do not embrace war; we are committed to peace.'
The Russian dissident women's group 'Pussy Riot' and the Ukrainian feminist movement group 'Femen' jointly protested in front of the Russian Pavilion today. Members of 'Pussy Riot' wore magenta balaclavas, held anti-Putin signs, and carried blue and yellow spray paint resembling the Ukrainian flag. Some protesters also bared their torsos.
Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, attended the opening of the Russian Pavilion today. The pavilion was filled with joyful music, champagne for guests, and musical instruments on the floor, creating an atmosphere like a parallel world compared to the scene outside.
Paramonov criticized on Facebook today, saying, 'The EU has a pathological and irrational obsession with persecuting Russian culture and art through various sanctions.' He expressed regret that the Italian government and the Venice Biennale committee had become targets of EU pressure, solely to erect an 'Iron Curtain' to prevent any EU country from interacting with Russia. (Edited by Chen Cheng-kung) 1150507
A CNA reporter visited the Russian Pavilion in person, where crowds surged at the entrance, and protest voices could be heard from afar. In the evening, two young Ukrainian female artists, Weronika Zalewska and Marta Romankiv, who live in Poland, held up posters and played daily air raid siren sounds from their phones, attempting to persuade visitors not to enter the Russian Pavilion.
Zalewska told CNA that she found it completely unacceptable watching many people casually entering the Russian Pavilion to enjoy the lively musical performances inside, which resembled a nightclub. As an artist, she stated, 'The Venice Biennale, as an art venue, should not become a space for whitewashing, defending genocide, or claiming everything is legitimate.'
Zalewska further stated that the art world, while chanting 'decolonization,' only seeks to profit from these terms. She pointed to the Venice Biennale's allowance for Russia and Israel to participate, countries that wage war without being held accountable. 'The Biennale sings about art not being politicized, that we are all one big family, and yet it gives aggressive nations beautiful spaces to display, ignoring that our territory is still occupied and bombed daily.'
The Russian National Pavilion had been closed for seven years at the Venice Biennale due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. This year, the Russian Pavilion is open to media and art professionals during the preview from May 6 to 8. However, in response to EU sanctions, the Russian Pavilion will not be open to the public during the official opening of the Biennale from May 9 to November, and its content will instead be broadcast on large screens via video recordings.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of the Venice Biennale Board, has recently become a target of criticism for not blocking Russia's participation. The EU sent a second warning yesterday, stating that the Venice Biennale should not become a showcase for Russia. The Italian Minister of Culture also did not attend the preview opening ceremony.
Buttafuoco stated at today's opening press conference, 'The mission of art and cultural work is freedom and boldness, and we have achieved that. In Venice, we do not embrace war; we are committed to peace.'
The Russian dissident women's group 'Pussy Riot' and the Ukrainian feminist movement group 'Femen' jointly protested in front of the Russian Pavilion today. Members of 'Pussy Riot' wore magenta balaclavas, held anti-Putin signs, and carried blue and yellow spray paint resembling the Ukrainian flag. Some protesters also bared their torsos.
Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, attended the opening of the Russian Pavilion today. The pavilion was filled with joyful music, champagne for guests, and musical instruments on the floor, creating an atmosphere like a parallel world compared to the scene outside.
Paramonov criticized on Facebook today, saying, 'The EU has a pathological and irrational obsession with persecuting Russian culture and art through various sanctions.' He expressed regret that the Italian government and the Venice Biennale committee had become targets of EU pressure, solely to erect an 'Iron Curtain' to prevent any EU country from interacting with Russia. (Edited by Chen Cheng-kung) 1150507