Venice Biennale allows Russia's participation and says no sanctions breached
Organisers of the Venice Biennale have said that no sanctions were violated by allowing the Russian pavilion to reopen. They confirmed that they have authorised Russia's participation in this year's exhibition.
Source: Artnews
Details: "No regulations have been violated," the organisers said, adding that the Italian Ministry of Culture has been provided with the relevant documentation.
The Biennale team stated that they oppose any censorship or exclusion of art. They said the exhibition must remain a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom even amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Some Italian politicians support this decision. In particular, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, known for his pro-Russian views, spoke out against cultural isolation.
Earlier, Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called on Tamara Gregoretti – the government's representative on the Venice Biennale board – to resign over Russia's participation in this year's exhibition.
Russia's participation in the 61st Venice Biennale
On 4 March, the Venice Biennale published the list of participating countries in the world's largest art exhibition. Russia was included on the list. The Russian national pavilion will be titled The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky, with Anastasia Karneyeva serving as commissioner.
The Russian art consultant and contemporary art manager was appointed commissioner of the Russian pavilion back in 2021 for the following eight years. However, Russia skipped the Biennale twice – in 2022 and 2024.
Karneyeva is the daughter of Nikolai Volobuyev, a retired general and deputy director of one of the largest defence corporations, Rostec. Previously, Volobuyev served as deputy head of Russia's Federal Customs Service and as director for special assignments at Rosoboronexport. From 1975 to 2004, he served in the ranks of the Soviet KGB and Russia's FSB.
In 2014, Karneyeva co-founded the art consulting company Smart Art together with Ekaterina Lavrova, the daughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Latvia's Ministry of Culture submitted a statement to the Biennale Foundation calling for Russia's participation in the international art exhibition to be reconsidered. The statement was signed by 22 countries.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!