Venice Biennale prize jury resigns after backlash over artist exclusions
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 5
Venice Biennale prize jury resigns after backlash over artist exclusions
14 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 5
The five-member panel quit before Saturday’s public opening of the 61st exhibition in Venice, after Israel’s representative threatened legal action over a policy barring artists from countries whose leaders face ICC investigations.
The resignations mean the Biennale is no longer a formal competition; visitor-voted popularity awards will replace the usual prizes at the exhibition featuring artists from nearly 100 countries.
The event has also been unsettled by curator Koyo Kouoh’s death last year and scrutiny from the Italian government and EU over the foundation’s decision to allow Russia to participate.
How did Russia secure its controversial place at the Venice Biennale despite EU sanctions and international outcry?
With its prestigious awards cancelled, has the Venice Biennale sacrificed its artistic integrity for political neutrality?
Amidst geopolitical turmoil, can the late curator's posthumous vision for an anti-capitalist Biennale still be realized?