Culture contests overshadowed by politics as Venice Biennale opens
The Venice Biennale, Eurovision, and Cannes are increasingly framed as nations representing themselves, yet national identity feels futile in a fractured world. As the Biennale opens to the public on Saturday, pre-event discussions have focused not on artworks but on which national pavilions will open or should remain closed. The Russian pavilion opened for press previews on Tuesday for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pumping techno music. Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco reportedly made this decision against the wishes of the Italian government that appointed him.
Key facts
- Venice Biennale opens to the public on Saturday
- Russian pavilion opened for press previews on Tuesday
- First Russian pavilion opening since full-scale invasion of Ukraine
- Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco made the decision
- Italian government opposed the Russian pavilion opening
- Pre-event talk focused on which pavilions should open
- Eurovision and Cannes also mentioned as culture contests
- National identity seen as increasingly futile in a fractured world
Entities
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Eurovision
- Cannes
Locations
- Venice
- Italy