‘Blood is Russia’s art’: protesters swarm Biennale
Members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot and Ukrainian feminist organization FEMEN flocked to the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale to protest Russia’s participation in the world’s oldest art exhibition.
50 members of feminist groups anti-Russian President Vladimir Putin, with their faces covered in pink ski masks and chanting slogans such as “Blood is the art of Russia” and “Disobedience”, blockaded the highly controversial pavilion for at least half an hour, while Italian police prevented them from entering.
They sang, played a punk rock song and dispersed without any conflict.
Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova said that after years of war, “you opened the door to them”, adding that the Biennale did not understand the importance of “so-called soft power, things that are apparently not important or political for some people”.
“It’s clear to Russia that this is part of their military strategy and they’re trying to conquer the West in this way,” he said.
This year is Russia’s first participation in an international art exhibition since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The opening has already cost the Biennale two million euros ($3.2 million) in EU funding and thrown the normally calm preview week into chaos, with the jury resigning in protest at the involvement of both Russia and Israel, citing crimes against humanity.
The Biennale defended its decision by saying that any country with relations with Italy was free to participate in the exhibition, despite opposition from the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The protest took place on the second day of VIP screenings by prominent figures from the art world and journalists ahead of the Biennial’s opening on Saturday.
Preparation for the 61st edition of the biennial is the most controversial event in recent memory; It reflects the global turmoil that permeates the exhibition, with 100 national pavilions and 110 artists and artist groups participating in the main curated exhibition called In Minor Keys.
Palestinians also protested Israel’s involvement with actions in Giardini.
On Wednesday, a separate group of protesters descended on the Israeli exhibit, covering the ground outside with rain-soaked pamphlets denouncing the “Holocaust Pavilion.”
Last week, the entire international jury resigned following an ICC statement citing countries whose leaders were wanted on suspicion of war crimes. It meant Russia and Israel.
with DPA
