Iran's Participation in Venice Biennale 2024 Sparks Controversy
Women Life Freedom Europe and Women Life Freedom Italy have launched a campaign to expel Iran from the upcoming 60th Venice Biennale. This follows earlier appeals to exclude Israel. They highlight the harsh repression in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022, impacting artists, women, and journalists. While there were initial thoughts that Iran might not participate, it’s now confirmed that the country will have a pavilion titled "Of One Essence is the Human Race" at Palazzo Malipiero. Curated by Shoaib Hosseini Moghaddam, it will feature artists like Fatemeh Ghafourian and Zeinab Ashoori Dahanehsari. The Biennale has stated it cannot exclude any nation recognized by Italy, emphasizing that Russia's absence was voluntary.
Key facts
- Women Life Freedom Europe and Women Life Freedom Italy appeal to exclude Iran from Venice Biennale 2024.
- Appeal follows earlier call by Art Not Genocide Alliance to exclude Israel.
- Iran's participation confirmed with pavilion at Palazzo Malipiero.
- Pavilion curated by Shoaib Hosseini Moghaddam, featuring five artists.
- Biennale states it cannot exclude countries recognized by Italy.
- Russia's pavilion closed by its own decision.
- Curator Adriano Pedrosa included Palestinian artists in collateral events.
- Mahsa Amini's death in September 2022 cited as catalyst for repression.
Entities
Artists
- Shirin Neshat
- Shirin Ebadi
- Marco Bellocchio
- Nanni Moretti
- Francesca Archibugi
- Marjane Satrapi
- Joseph Kosuth
- Alberto Biasi
- Paolo Fresu
- Davide Toffolo
- Franco Piersanti
- Fatemeh Ghafourian
- Zeinab Ashoori Dahanehsari
- M. Saber Sheykh Rezaei
- Rasool Rabiei Dehnavi
- Hossein Mohseni
- Adriano Pedrosa
- Mahsa Amini
Institutions
- Biennale di Venezia
- Women Life Freedom Europe
- Women Life Freedom Italy
- Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA)
- Palazzo Malipiero
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Iran
- Israel
- Russia
- Palestinian territories