Kiev Biennale Cancelled Amid Conflict, Curators Vow to Proceed with 'The School of Kiev'

Political instability and escalating violence in Ukraine have forced the cancellation of the second Kiev Biennale. The National Art and Cultural Museum Complex Mystetskyi Arsenal, the biennale's organizer and venue, announced it could not ensure the safety of participants or handle international logistics for artwork transport and insurance. This decision came as armed conflict between pro-Moscow separatists and the Ukrainian army intensified following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. Originally planned for 2014, the biennale had already been postponed to 2015 by its curators, Georg Schöllhammer and Hedwig Saxenhuber, due to earlier protests in the capital. In a significant development, the curators have publicly contested the cancellation. In a statement to artnet, Schöllhammer and Saxenhuber declared their intention to proceed with the exhibition, titled 'The School of Kiev'. They asserted that the Mystetskyi Arsenal made the cancellation decision unilaterally, without their consent. The curators, supported by participating artists, intellectuals, civil society groups, and international institutions, argue that artistic expression is crucial for challenging the current political climate defined by war. They plan to announce specific exhibition dates and alternative venues at a press conference scheduled for April 2015. The biennale's fate underscores the profound impact of geopolitical conflict on cultural production.