Wo bitte geht's zum nächsten Skandal?
The article reports on the 2024 Venice Biennale preview days, where the atmosphere is dominated by political protests, media stunts, and social-media pressure rather than the art itself. Incidents include a solidarity drone choir for Gaza, a Pussy Riot and FEMEN protest at the Russian Pavilion, and a planned demonstration near the Israeli Pavilion, all amplified by PR agencies and WhatsApp alerts. A journalist describes being pressured by editors to cover scandals and political controversies instead of art reviews, which they say no longer attract clicks.
This matters because it reflects a broader crisis in arts journalism and the public reception of contemporary art: the art world's increasing entanglement with activism, instant media, and click-driven content is overshadowing the actual artworks and curatorial achievements of the Biennale. The piece critiques how the search for the next scandal—fueled by Instagram anxiety, PR machines, and editorial demands—risks reducing a major international art exhibition to a backdrop for political theater, leaving little room for thoughtful criticism or genuine engagement with art.