Geopolitical tensions have upended the Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition, which opened its most chaotic and contested edition in memory on Saturday with no Golden Lions after the jury quit in protest of Israel's and Russia's participation. The decision comes as loud protests erupted outside their pavilions.
The jury limited its action to countries under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses, but some observers argue the United States should have been included. British artist Anish Kapoor cited "the politics of hate and war and all that that's been going on now for too long" in commenting on the controversy.
Ahead of the opening, protesters objecting to Israel's participation clashed with police on Friday. Earlier in the week, feminist groups from Ukraine and Russia converged on the Russian Pavilion and Palestinians remembered artists killed in Gaza.
Rather than jury awards, visitors to the Giardini and Arsenale venues will now vote for the best national pavilion from 100 participants and the best participant in the main curated show, "In Minor Keys," in Eurovision style. The vote will be anonymous and conducted by email, the Biennale said Saturday. Winners will be announced on closing day, November 22.
The main curated exhibition, "In Minor Keys," was assembled by the late Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman chosen to curate the main Biennale exhibition. The show features 110 artists and artistic groups with a focus on minority perspectives, including a towering red feathered sculpture with beaded embroidery rooted in New Orleans Black Masking culture.
