Venice: Geopolitical tensions have disrupted the Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition, which opens its most contested edition in recent memory on Saturday after the jury quit in protest over the participation of Israel and Russia. The move has resulted in no Golden Lions awards being presented, while loud protests have been reported outside several national pavilions.
The jury had limited its protest to countries under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged human rights violations. However, critics argued that the United States should also have been included.
British artist Anish Kapoor criticised the situation, referring to “the politics of hate and war and all that that's been going on now for too long.”
Visitors to the Giardini and Arsenale venues will now vote for the best national pavilion among 100 participants, as well as the best entry in the main curated exhibition titled “In Minor Keys”, in a Eurovision-style format. Winners will be announced on the closing day, November 22.
A striking red-feathered sculpture with beaded embroidery greets visitors to the main curated show, inspired by New Orleans Black Masking culture, rooted in African traditions brought by enslaved people. The exhibition focuses on minority perspectives.
The exhibition was conceived by late curator Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman selected to curate the main Biennale exhibition, who assembled 110 artists and artistic groups. After her death a year ago, five co-curators continued her work. Co-curator Marie Helene Pereira said Kouoh’s vision was to create “spaces for everyone to shine.”
Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid presents “Predicting History: Testing Translation” at the British Pavilion, featuring brightly coloured paintings exploring the experiences of newcomers and migration. Born in Zanzibar and based in Britain for over 70 years, she reflects on identity, settlement and cultural contribution.
The Austrian Pavilion features provocative installations, including a performance by Florentina Holzinger showing a naked woman hanging from a bell and another riding a Jet Ski inside a tank, highlighting Venice’s issues with over-tourism. Another installation uses filtered wastewater from nearby toilets with a diver breathing through scuba equipment.
Inside the Israeli pavilion, artist Belu-Simion Fainaru presents a meditative installation featuring dripping water cycles symbolising divine creation in Jewish mysticism. Locks engraved with “Love thy neighbour as thyself” and “This too shall pass” accompany the work. Fainaru said he opposes boycotts and supports dialogue, calling the jury’s exclusion of Israel discriminatory.
With PTI inputs