Venice Art Biennale Jury Excludes Russia and Israel from Awards Over Human Rights Concerns

The Venice Art Biennale's international jury has made a significant decision, announcing that it will refrain from considering works from countries whose leaders face accusations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court. This principled stance means that both Russia and Israel will be excluded from the prestigious Golden and Silver Lion awards at this year's exhibition.

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In this edition of the Biennale, we wish to declare our intention to express our commitment to the defense of human rights in the spirit of Koyo Kouoh's curatorial project.

Presided over by Solange Farkas and including members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, the jury emphasized their commitment to human rights. They stated their intention to uphold the spirit of the curatorial project, which focuses on "minor keys" and the dignity of all living beings. This decision reflects a desire to align the Biennale with urgent contemporary issues and to use its platform to advocate for justice and ethical conduct.

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As members of the Jury, we also have a responsibility towards the historical role of the Biennale, as a platform that connects art to the urgencies of its time.

The jury acknowledged the complex relationship between artistic practice and the representation of the state, particularly how artists' work can be linked to the actions of their governments. By excluding nations whose leadership is implicated in severe international crimes, the Biennale seeks to draw a clear line, distinguishing artistic expression from state-sponsored atrocities. This move is a powerful statement, using the international stage of the art world to underscore global values and to hold nations accountable for their leaders' alleged actions.

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In rejecting the spectacle of horror, it is time to listen to the minor keys, to tune into the whispers, to the lower frequencies; to find the oases, the islands, where the dignity of all living beings is safeguarded.