Protests erupt over Russia at Venice Biennale
The Russian protest collective Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian-founded Femen staged a joint demonstration at the Venice Biennale, disrupting the return of Russia to the prestigious international art exhibition for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The activists moved through the Biennale gardens dressed in black, wearing fluorescent pink balaclavas, before gathering outside the Russian pavilion. Security intervened as they shouted slogans including “Russia kills! Biennale exhibits!” while setting off smoke flares and raising protest signs. One banner read: “Curated by Putin, dead bodies included,” underscoring their criticism of Russia’s participation in the event amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova accused Russia of using cultural platforms as part of broader political influence efforts. She argued that the country’s presence at the Biennale was an attempt to normalize its international image despite the […]
