On the opening day of the Venice Biennale, around 60 artists and dozens of other participants staged a protest titled “Solidarity Drone Chorus” at the Giardini entrance, humming a viral song by Gazan composer Ahmed “Muin” Abu Amsha to sonically occupy the space. The action, organized by artists in the main exhibition over several months, protested Israel’s participation in the Biennale and expressed support for Palestine, with participants wearing T-shirts bearing the names and artworks of Gazan and Palestinian artists, many of whom have been killed. The protest follows an open letter from the Art Not Genocide Alliance demanding Israel’s exclusion.
The action matters because it highlights growing tensions within the art world over the Biennale’s decision to relocate the Israeli Pavilion to the Arsenale, which some artists view as complicity with alleged war crimes. By centering Palestinian voices and drawing attention to the daily reality of life in Gaza, the protest challenges the Biennale’s political neutrality and calls for greater accountability from major cultural institutions. The planned repeat performances throughout the week signal sustained dissent and could influence future Biennale policies on national pavilions.