"Es hat niemals eine unpolitische Venedig-Biennale gegeben"
The Venice Biennale is embroiled in political controversy, with the US Pavilion's selection process criticized for bypassing traditional curatorial expertise in favor of a politically connected outsider. Simultaneously, a collective of artists and academics is protesting Russia's return to the Biennale, arguing it uses art as a political instrument to normalize its actions amid the war in Ukraine. An analysis in ArtReview contends the Biennale has never been apolitical, serving as a stage for geopolitical power plays since its inception.
These events underscore the deep and persistent entanglement of art, nationalism, and soft power at major international exhibitions. The debates challenge the myth of art's separation from politics, revealing how national pavilions are inherently political tools. The controversies also highlight ongoing tensions between artistic merit, institutional credibility, and governmental influence in shaping cultural diplomacy on a global stage.