Venice Biennale Opens Without a Jury After Pavilion Strike Over Israel

The 61st Venice Biennale opened to the public Saturday with no jury, after its five members resigned in protest and artists shut a number of national pavilions on opening day. Brussels Times reported that the exhibition, which showcases art from 100 countries, runs through Nov. 22, and the Times of Israel reported that no Golden Lions will be awarded for best national pavilion or best participant in the main exhibition.

The jury, headed by Solange Farkas, resigned in April over the decision to allow Israel and Russia to take part, the Times of Israel reported. It said the jury would not consider works from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges, a description that applies to Israel’s prime minister and Russia’s president. The other members were Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi.

On Friday, May 8, a coalition called the Art Not Genocide Alliance called a strike to protest Israel’s inclusion, citing the war in Gaza. The coalition first said about 20 pavilions would close; the Times of Israel reported that 12 took part, and the Brussels Times, citing the Italian agency Ansa, said the Belgian pavilion joined 20 others in closing. The Belgian, Dutch, Austrian, Japanese, Macedonian and Korean pavilions were among those shut, and the British, Spanish, French, Egyptian, Finnish and Luxembourg pavilions closed for several hours, according to the Times of Israel, citing The Guardian. Others flew Palestinian flags or displayed pro-Palestinian artwork.

Israel’s pavilion, in the Arsenale, shows “Rose of Nothingness” by the Romanian-born artist Belu-Simion Fainaru. It was closed to the public on Friday for its official opening, and armed police stopped visitors without tickets, the Times of Israel reported, citing the New York Times. About 2,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched toward the Arsenale and briefly clashed with police. Fainaru said divisions at the Biennale were “destroying the meaning of art” to unite people. Israel rejects allegations of genocide and notes a tenuous ceasefire has been in place since November, the Times of Israel said.

Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco refused to reverse the decision to include Israel and Russia, calling the festival “a space of coexistence for the whole planet,” and the Biennale said the jury had acted with full autonomy, according to the Times of Israel. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said “American, Chinese, Israeli, or Russian artists” are not “spokespeople for ongoing conflicts.” Brussels Times reported that activists from Pussy Riot and Inna Shevchenko of FEMEN protested Russia’s participation on May 6.

Palestinians have no national pavilion; they are represented by an exhibition at Palazzo Mora curated by Faisal Saleh, the Times of Israel said. The main exhibition, “In Minor Keys,” features works by 110 artists, collectives and organizations and follows the vision of the late curator Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman to lead the Biennale’s curation, Brussels Times reported. The lifetime achievement Golden Lions will not be presented because she died before selecting winners.

The Biennale, founded in 1895, typically draws more than 600,000 visitors over its seven-month run, the Times of Israel said.