Russian Pavilion Closes at 2022 Venice Biennale Amid Ukraine Invasion

The Russian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale will remain closed after curator Raimundas Malašauskas and artists Kirill Savchenkov and Alexandra Sukhareva resigned collectively on February 27, 2022, in protest of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Biennale expressed solidarity, calling the move a 'courageous and noble act.' Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini praised the decision. The article questions whether self-censorship is the best response, noting that other conflicts have not prompted similar boycotts. It suggests alternative solutions, such as hosting artists in other pavilions or collateral events, as was done for Ai Weiwei in 2013 and Tania Bruguera in 2009. The Ukrainian pavilion had earlier decided not to proceed with its exhibition. The Biennale runs from April 23 to November 27, 2022.