In the Arsenale, on the first floor of the Sale d’Armi, the Republic of South Africa’s pavilion will remain empty this year. The Russian Federation’s pavilion, closed since 2022, might on the other hand reopen — although the latest news seems to cast doubt on this possibility. The pavilion’s commissioner, Anastasia Karneeva, through her company Smart Art, submitted a formal request to participate, and the Biennale accepted the project.
All hell broke loose. Twenty-two European countries protested vehemently against the Russian presence, and the European Commission threatened to cut the Biennale’s funding. This happened just days after the Paralympics, where Russian athletes not only competed but won gold medals and stood on the podium to the sound of their national anthem.
