Why Russia Should Stay at the Venice Biennale

An opinion piece argues against excluding Russia from the Venice Biennale, despite the war in Ukraine. The Russian pavilion's exhibition, titled 'Der Baum ist im Himmel verwurzelt' (The Tree Is Rooted in Heaven), features musicians from Russia, Argentina, Mali, and Mexico, and centers on the idea that politics is time-bound. The author contends that calls for Russia's expulsion are understandable but dangerous, as uninviting states undermines the Biennale's foundational principle of openness. The piece warns that if the Biennale begins excluding nations, its own raison d'être comes into question. The article appears in Monopol magazine and is behind a paywall.