54 Artists Withdraw from Venice Biennale Golden Lion Competition
On the opening of the 61st Venice Biennale, 54 artists from the international exhibition 'In Minor Keys' and representatives from 22 national pavilions announced their withdrawal from the awards, deepening a political crisis. The decision was published via e-flux manifesto in response to the resignation of the international jury in late April. The jury had declared it would not consider countries whose leaders are accused of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court, effectively excluding Israel and Russia. After the jury resigned, the Biennale organization exceptionally abolished the Golden Lions and created 'Visitor Lions' determined by public vote, to be announced in November. This reinstated Israel and Russia, triggering further backlash. Notable artists withdrawing include Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar, Otobong Nkanga, Walid Raad, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, and Carolina Caycedo. National pavilions from France, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Switzerland, and UAE joined the symbolic boycott. Protests targeted the Israeli and Russian pavilions, and a strike by cultural workers disrupted activities at the Arsenale. In March, a previous open letter had called for Israel's exclusion.
Key facts
- 54 artists from 'In Minor Keys' and 22 national pavilions withdrew from Venice Biennale awards.
- The withdrawal followed the resignation of the international jury in late April.
- The jury had declared it would not consider countries with leaders accused of crimes against humanity.
- The Biennale abolished Golden Lions and created 'Visitor Lions' decided by public vote.
- Israel and Russia were reinstated as eligible for the new awards.
- Notable artists: Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar, Otobong Nkanga, Walid Raad, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Carolina Caycedo.
- National pavilions from France, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Switzerland, UAE joined the boycott.
- Protests and a cultural workers' strike occurred at the Arsenale.
Entities
Artists
- Laurie Anderson
- Alfredo Jaar
- Otobong Nkanga
- Walid Raad
- Tuan Andrew Nguyen
- Carolina Caycedo
- Belu-Simion Fainaru
- Fabric Aragno
- Sammy Baloji
- Éric Baudelaire
- Sabian Baumann
- Nancy Brooks Brody Estate
- BuBu de la madeleine
- Annalee Davis
- Bonnie Devine
- Nolan Oswald Dennis
- rana elnemr
- Joy Episalla
- Rachel Fallon
- Sofía Gallisá Muriente
- Joana Hadjithomas
- Khalil Joreige
- Sohrab Hura
- Mohammed Joha
- fierce pussy
- Michael Joo
- Nina Katchadourian
- Guadalupe Maravilla
- Natalia Lassalle Morillo
- Florence Lazar
- Zoe Leonard
- Alice Maher
- Sally Mizrachi
- Avi Mograbi
- Avital Barak
- Hagar Ophir
- Uriel Orlow
- Alan Phelan
- Leonard Pongo
- Mohammed Z. Rahman
- Tabita Rezaire
- Guadalupe Rosales
- Yo-E Ryou
- Rose Salane
- Carrie Schneider
- Hala Schoukair
- Berni Searle
- Yoshiko Shimada
- Himali Singh Soin
- David Soin Tappeser
- Cauleen Smith
- Vera Tamari
- Jo-ey Tang
- Carrie Yamaoka
- Raed Yassin
- Thania Petersen
- Miet Warlop
- Aline Bouvy
- Stilbé Schroeder
- Yto Barrada
- Neja Tomšič
- Martin Bricelj Baraga
- Nika Grabar
- Miloš Kosec
- Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez
- MAREUNROL’S
- Bruno Birmanis
- Egle Budvytyte
- Gianmaria Andreetta
- Luca Beeler
- Miriam Laura Leonardi
- Lithic Alliance
- Yul Tomatala
- Nina Wakeford
- Oriol Vilanova
- Dries Verhoeven
- Bogna Burska
- Daniel Kotowski
- Boloh Miranda
- Tatiana Lopez
- Sani Montahuano
- Mukutsawa Montahuano
- Enoc Merino
- Tawna Collective
- Isabel Nolan
- Brilant Milazimi
- Juha Huuskonen
- Jakub Jansa
- Selmeci Kocka Jusko
- Marina Xenofontos
- Genti Korini
- Farah Al Qasimi
- Nilbar Güreş
- Susan Mains
- Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir
- Pavel Brăila
- Pio Abad
- arms ache avid aeon
- Caroline Dumalin
- Louise O’Kelly
- Rieke Vos
- Ewa Chomicka
- Jolanta Woszczenko
- Georgina Jackson
- Cian O’Brien
- Peter Sit
- Nancy Brooks Brody
- Nonument Group
- Koyo Kouoh
- Pussy Riot
- Fabrice Aragno
- BuBu de la Madeleine
- Natalia Lassalle-Morillo
- MAREUNROL'S
- Burska
- Kotowski
Institutions
- Bienal de Veneza
- Fundação Bienal de Veneza
- e-flux
- Tribunal Penal Internacional
- Arsenale
- Venice Biennale
- La Biennale di Venezia
- ArtReview
- Biennale Foundation
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Hyperallergic
- Israel Pavilion
- Russian Pavilion
- International Criminal Court
- European Union
- Bolivia
- Corriere della Sera
- Central Pavilion
- ArtAsiaPacific
- Belgium Pavilion
- Luxembourg Pavilion
- France Pavilion
- Slovenia Pavilion
- Latvia Pavilion
- Lithuania Pavilion
- Switzerland Pavilion
- Spain Pavilion
- Netherlands Pavilion
- Poland Pavilion
- Ecuador Pavilion
- Ireland Pavilion
- Kosovo Pavilion
- Finland Pavilion
- Czech Republic and Slovakia Pavilion
- Cyprus Pavilion
- Albania Pavilion
- UAE Pavilion
- Türkiye Pavilion
- Grenada Pavilion
- Iceland Pavilion
- Moldova Pavilion
- The Art Newspaper
- Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA)
- Pussy Riot
- FEMEN
- Biennale di Venezia
- International Court of Justice
- Tawna Collective
- Nonument
- Zachęta National Gallery of Art
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Israel
- Russia
- France
- Belgium
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
- Luxembourg
- Slovenia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Ecuador
- Kosovo
- Finland
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Cyprus
- Albania
- Turkey
- Grenada
- Iceland
- Moldova
- Chile
- United States
- Lebanon
- Nigeria
- Arsenale
- India
- Romania