Venice Biennale political storm
Russia’s return to its historic pavilion for the 61st Venice Biennale has ignited a global row — the move prompted threats from the European Commission over funding and a coalition of 22 countries calling for Russia’s exclusion [][]. Ukraine will make a pointed cultural statement too: the 'Origami Deer' sculpture rescued from frontline Donetsk is touring six European countries before being shown at the Biennale as a symbol of resilience [].
European Commission Executive Vice‑President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Glenn Micallef issued a joint statement on March 10, 2026, condemning the Fondazione Biennale’s decision and warning they would “examine further action, including the suspension or termination of an ongoing EU grant.” ec.europa.eu The specific EU contribution under scrutiny is a roughly €2 million grant earmarked for Biennale film projects, a figure reported by The Art Newspaper citing the Financial Times. theartnewspaper.com The protest campaign was launched by Latvia’s Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce and on March 10 gathered signatures from culture and foreign ministers of 22 states — including Austria, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Ukraine. km.gov.lv That joint letter was formally addressed to La Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and the foundation’s board, and copies were shared with Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli. km.gov.lv The Kremlin’s cultural envoy Mikhail Shvydkov told ARTNews that Russia intends to stage an exhibition in May, a return Meduza noted would mark Moscow’s first national pavilion at the Biennale since 2022, while the 61st edition is scheduled to run from May 9 to November 22, 2026. meduza.io Zhanna Kadyrova’s Origami Deer — created in 2019 in Pokrovsk with Denys Ruban, deinstalled in 2024 as Russian forces advanced — is being shown in six European capitals (Warsaw, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Brussels and Paris) before taking its place in Venice, AFP reported. france24.com Ukraine’s national pavilion, titled “Security Guarantees” and curated by Ksenia Malykh and Leonid Marushchak, will centre the deer and intends to display it suspended from a crane on a truck along the lagoon embankment, according to the pavilion announcement and The Art Newspaper’s coverage. artslooker.com
