Pussy Riot activists forced the temporary closure of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale on Wednesday, staging a chaotic protest against Russia's participation in the art festival. The demonstration occurred on the second day of the preview period, drawing attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Protest Details
Wearing pink balaclavas, approximately 40 protesters, including members of the feminist group Femen, ran towards the Russian pavilion. They lit pink, blue, and yellow flares while playing punk music and shouting slogans such as "Blood is Russia's Art" and "Curated by Putin, dead bodies included." Some activists had slogans written on their bodies, including "Russia kills, biennale exhibits" and "Russian art, Ukrainian blood." A statue outside the pavilion was wrapped in a Ukrainian flag.
Police lined the entrance to prevent the group from entering. No arrests were made during the protest, which drew a large crowd of bewildered onlookers who had just entered the event after long queues.
Activist Statements
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founding member of Pussy Riot, expressed horror at the sight of people partying at the Russian pavilion on the first day, where crates of prosecco were loaded and loud techno music played. She said: "It's weird to me that Europe keeps saying that Ukraine is a shield for the entire European continent but it opens its doors time and time again to Russian propaganda. It's heartbreaking for me."
Tolokonnikova pleaded with Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the biennale, to "stop taking Russian money" and speak to the group. In a press statement, Pussy Riot offered to curate the 2028 Russian pavilion, pledging to use work by artists who are or have been imprisoned in Russian correctional facilities.
Diplomatic Tensions
A diplomatic row over Russia's involvement has been escalating. The Financial Times reported that the European Commission told the Italian government and the biennale's organisers that allowing the Russian delegation to participate would breach EU sanctions.
The jury for the Golden Lion prizes resigned en masse before the event, stating they would not consider entries from countries whose leaders were subject to international arrest warrants, which would have barred Russia and Israel. An Italian news outlet claimed the jury resigned after being told by the biennale's legal team that they could be held personally responsible if Israel pursued legal action. A representative from the biennale confirmed the report's accuracy to the Guardian.
Other Protests
An hour after the Pussy Riot protest, the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga) staged a demonstration outside the Israeli pavilion in the Arsenale. The pavilion was locked from the inside while the group protested Israel's inclusion over its war in Gaza. More than 200 participants signed a letter demanding the cancellation of the Israeli pavilion, calling it "a collective refusal to allow you to platform the Israeli state as it commits genocide."
Israel's foreign ministry condemned Anga, calling the group's actions "anti-Israeli political indoctrination" and "direct discrimination."
A larger demonstration coordinated by Anga is expected on Friday, including Italian labour unions, art workers, curators, and nearly 20 artists with work on display. Some artists may create picket lines outside their pavilions and ask visitors not to enter.
UK Response
At the official opening of the British pavilion for Lubaina Himid, a representative of the British ambassador said no minister attended because of Russian involvement. A government spokesperson said: "The UK strongly opposes Russia's participation at the Venice Biennale. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who have endured more than four years of illegal Russian aggression. As a result we have made the decision not to have government ministers attend the Biennale this year."
Protest and politics are not new at the biennale. In 1968, protests against the US over the Vietnam war spilled over from the wider student movement. Six years later, the entire event was dedicated to the people of Chile under military dictator Augusto Pinochet.
