Russia Returns to Venice Biennale
The Russian Federation will participate in the iconic Venice Biennale art exhibition after a four-year absence, described as a gesture toward art prevailing over geopolitics despite Italian government reservations. Meanwhile, 'Sculpture by the Sea' returned to Perth's Cottesloe Beach after a lengthy funding battle, showcasing large-scale public artworks in a scenic coastal setting.
Russia's 2022 withdrawal from the Venice Biennale occurred after its selected artists and curator pulled out, stating that "art has no place" during the "politically and emotionally intolerable" invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, the Russian Federation's pavilion was loaned to Bolivia for its national exhibition. The upcoming Russian exhibition, titled "The Tree is Rooted in the Sky," will reportedly feature a music festival with artists from several countries. The lineup includes members of the Toloka ensemble, a nationalistic folk group that has performed in support of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The pavilion's commissioner, Anastasia Karneeva, is the daughter of the deputy CEO of Rostec, Russia's largest state-owned defense company. The Biennale's decision has been met with protest from activist groups like Pussy Riot, who are planning a performance in Venice to oppose the move. The Italian government has publicly stated its opposition to Russia's inclusion, clarifying the decision was made "entirely independently by the Biennale Foundation." The 2025 'Sculpture by the Sea' in Cottesloe was cancelled due to a $700,000 funding shortfall after several federal arts funding packages ended. The 2024 event had attracted over 235,000 attendees, generating an estimated $4.5 million for the local economy. To ensure its return, the federal government, through its trade and investment agency Austrade, has provided a $1.5 million grant to secure the Cottesloe exhibition for both 2026 and 2027. This is supplemented by $570,000 in funding from the Western Australian government via Tourism WA and Lotterywest. The 2026 exhibition, which runs from March 6 to 23, will showcase over 70 sculptures from Australian and international artists. Alongside the main outdoor gallery, an indoor exhibition at the Sea View Golf Club will feature 120 smaller works.
