Venice Biennale: Iran Withdraws, Kapoor Demands US Exclusion, Market Blurs Lines

Iran will not participate in the Venice Biennale, citing political and economic crises, with logistics described as impossible due to no flights or postal service. Anish Kapoor has called for the exclusion of the United States from the Biennale, criticizing its 'abhorrent politics of hate' and 'ongoing warmongering.' A memorial banner by Derrick Adams for the late curator Koyo Kouoh, who was to lead the main exhibition, will be installed near the Arsenale. Olamiju Fajemisin warns that Kouoh's concept for the Biennale, 'In Minor Keys,' risks reinterpretation without her presence, highlighting how Black curatorial voices often become objects of interpretation posthumously. Under Giorgia Meloni's government, cultural institutions face political interference; Beatrice Venezi lost her post at La Fenice after criticizing nepotism. The EU has cut funding due to Russia's participation, the jury resigned, and the culture minister withdrew. The Biennale's non-commercial facade is eroding: Christie's is holding an exclusive sales exhibition with works up to $50 million, and gallerists note that dealers must increasingly cover costs through sales. Italy's 5% VAT advantage lowers prices for collectors, shifting the dynamic from 'see in Venice, buy in Basel' to 'see and buy in Venice.'