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Venice Biennale previews in chaos, overshadowed by row over Israeli and ...
The Venice Biennale previewed its 61st and most chaotic edition ever on Tuesday, just days after the unprecedented resignation of its jury over the participation of Israel and Russia undermined the very structure of the world’s oldest contemporary art exhibition. Tensions were evident as a group of Palestinians marched through the Giardini wearing the names of artists who have been killed in Gaza. More protests were expected as the preview week continued. At the same time, Ukrainian artists stood by a truck that had brought a statue of an origami deer from the war-ravaged eastern front to the Biennale’s storied Giardini. Just meters away, a handful of participants in the Russian Pavilion danced to house music played by an Argentine DJ. Few inside the Biennale were surprised that global politics were spilling over into the international art exhibition, putting new pressure on its structure of national pavilions alongside a curated exhibition and raising old questions: Is the representation of nations outmoded in a globalized system where artists often operate internationally, and does it give states an undue platform for propaganda? “I think what has been contested very much is the existence of the nation state within the space of the exhibition,” said Marie Helene Pereira, one of the five curators of the main exhibition “In Minor Keys,” who have taken up the mantle of the late curator Koyo Kouoh. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms “We can see how much that can bring tension, especially in the midst of the political chaos (in which) we find ourselves,” Pereira said. “It’s important to be able to rethink structure, rethink institutions, in a way that allows for them to cater more to artists and artmaking,” though that didn’t mean that art should be devoid of politics. Ahead of its resignation, the jury had said it would not award prizes to countries whose leaders were under investigation by the International Court of Justice. The move isolated Israel and Russia, whose leaders Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin both face such charges. Artist Belu-Simion Fainaru poses inside the Israel pavilion at the Venice 2026 Biennale Art, in Venice, Italy, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru, who is exhibiting at the Biennale, told the Judische Allgemeine newspaper he was “pleased” to hear that the jury had resigned....
Venice Biennale plunged into chaos after jury quits over Israel and ...
The 61st Venice Biennale opened its preview on Tuesday, described as its most chaotic edition to date, following the unprecedented resignation of its jury. This dramatic move, prompted by the participation of Israel and Russia, has significantly undermined the foundational structure of the world’s oldest contemporary art exhibition.Tensions were immediately evident within the storied Giardini. Ukrainian artists stood beside a truck that had transported an origami deer sculpture from the war-ravaged eastern front. Just metres away, a small group of participants at the Russian Pavilion danced to house music provided by an Argentine DJ.Concurrently, a group of Palestinians marched through the grounds, displaying the names of artists who have been killed in Gaza. Further protests are anticipated as the preview week progresses.The developments have put pressure on Biennale’s structure — with 100 national pavilions showing alongside a curated exhibition featuring 110 artists and artist groups — and raised old questions: Is the representation of nations outmoded in a globalized system where artists often operate internationally and does it give states an undue platform for propagandaDivisions shake the BiennaleMarie Helene Pereira, one of the five curators of the main exhibition “In Minor Keys,” said she believes that the turmoil surrounding the Biennale shows that "the existence of the nation state within the space of the exhibition’’ is now contested.“We can see how much that can bring tension, especially in the midst of the political chaos we find our selves,” Pereira said. Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova poses flanked by Ukrainian artist Nikita Kravtsov next to her installation 'The Origami Deer' (AP)Pereira, one of five curators who have taken up the mantle of Koyo Kouoh who died a year ago as she was preparing the exhibition, said that it was "important to be able to rethink structure, rethink institutions, in a way that allows for them to cater more to artists and artmaking. That didn’t mean that art should be void of politics, she added.Ahead of its resignation, the jury had said it would not award prizes to countries whose leaders were under investigation by the International Court of Justice, which singled out Russia and Israel. Some participants welcomed the resignation. Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru said he thought it was “a fair one.”“I should be treated as an equal artist, and I should not be discriminated because of my race, that I am a Jew, ...
How Russia and Israel's Venice Biennale participation is causing big ...
The Venice Biennale previewed its 61st and most chaotic edition ever early this week, just days after the unprecedented resignation of its jury over the participation of Israel and Russia ...
Venice Biennale: Boycotts and threats over participation of Russia ...
The Venice Biennale previewed its 61st and most chaotic edition ever on Tuesday, just days after the unprecedented resignation of its jury over the participation of Israel and Russia undermined ...
