Russian Pavilion at 2019 Venice Biennale Presents Hermitage-Inspired Meta-Commentary

In 2019, Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director of the State Hermitage Museum, took charge of the Russian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale. He invited artists Alexander Sokurov and Alexander Shishkin-Hokusai to develop installations. Sokurov's piece, "Lc 15:11-32," offers a fresh perspective on Rembrandt's 1669 work, "The Return of the Prodigal Son," focusing on themes of war, family, and redemption. Meanwhile, Shishkin-Hokusai's "The Flemish School" uses animatronics to critique spectacle and consumption, referencing Rembrandt's 1637 "Prodigal Son in the Brothel." The pavilion also showcased a replica of "The Feet of Atlant." Additional contributors included Yelena Zhukova, Lydia Kryukova, and students from St. Petersburg's Imperial Academy of Arts. Ralph Rugoff established the Biennale's theme, "May You Live In Interesting Times," which received a mixed response, with opinions varying from "overcooked mess" to "the most beautiful exhibit."