Russia's Venice Biennale return threatens cultural isolation

Russia's planned return to the Venice Biennale risks undermining the event's cultural relevance, according to a Financial Times opinion piece. The article argues that allowing Russia to participate after its invasion of Ukraine normalizes aggression and weakens international cultural sanctions. The Biennale, scheduled for 2024, faces pressure to exclude Russia, as many Western institutions have severed ties with Russian state-backed entities. The piece notes that Russia's pavilion, historically a platform for soft power, could become a propaganda tool. Critics contend that Russia's presence would render the Biennale complicit in legitimizing the Kremlin's actions. The opinion concludes that the Biennale must choose between upholding cultural integrity or becoming irrelevant by accommodating Russia.