This year’s edition of the Venice Biennale opened Saturday under intense political tension and public protest, making it one of the most disputed editions in recent memory. The event began without awarding its traditional Golden Lion prizes after the jury resigned in protest over the participation of Israel and Russia.
The departing jury argued that countries facing investigations by the International Criminal Court over alleged human rights violations should not take part. Critics, however, questioned why the United States was not included in that stance. British artist Anish Kapoor referred to the ongoing atmosphere as one shaped by “hate and war.”
Instead of a formal jury selection, visitors to the Biennale’s Giardini and Arsenale venues will choose the winning national pavilion and best artist in the central exhibition through anonymous online voting inspired by the Eurovision system. Winners will be revealed on the exhibition’s closing day, Nov. 22.
The opening was accompanied by demonstrations and unrest. Protesters opposing Israel’s participation clashed with police on Friday, while feminist activists from Ukraine and Russia gathered earlier in the week at the Russian Pavilion. Palestinian groups also held memorials for artists killed in Gaza.
Koyo Kouoh’s “In Minor Keys” Highlights Marginalized Voices
The central exhibition, titled In Minor Keys, opens with a large red feathered sculpture inspired by New Orleans Black Masking traditions rooted in African heritage. The exhibition centers on overlooked and minority perspectives.
Curated originally by the late Koyo Kouoh — the first African woman selected to lead the Biennale’s main exhibition — the show features 110 artists and collectives. After Kouoh’s death last year, five co-curators completed her vision.
Co-curator Marie Helene Pereira said Kouoh believed in creating spaces where all artists could be seen and appreciated.
Lubaina Himid Examines Migration and Belonging
At the British Pavilion, Lubaina Himid presents Predicting History: Testing Translation, a collection of vividly colored paintings exploring the experience of settling in unfamiliar places.
One work depicts two architects debating whether to create a lasting monument or build something temporary that allows escape if needed. Himid, born in Zanzibar and raised in Britain, uses the exhibition to reflect on identity, migration and adaptation.
Vatican Pavilion Offers Reflection Through Music and Nature
The Vatican’s contribution transforms the Mystic Gardens near Venice’s main railway station into a contemplative space focused on spirituality and peace.
Visitors wander through vineyards and herb gardens while listening through headphones to reinterpretations of music by medieval mystic Hildegard of Bingen, reimagined by artists including Brian Eno and Patti Smith.
Rev. Ermanno Barucco described the installation as an invitation for visitors to reconnect with themselves through music and reflection.
Austrian Pavilion Pushes Boundaries With Provocative Performances
The Austrian Pavilion, created by artist Florentina Holzinger, quickly became one of the Biennale’s most talked-about attractions.
One performance features a naked woman suspended from a bell tower, while another shows a nude rider circling on a Jet Ski inside a water tank — a commentary on Venice’s transformation into an overcrowded tourist destination.
Another installation includes a woman submerged in filtered wastewater from nearby toilets, part of the exhibition titled Seaworld Venice.
Israeli Pavilion Promotes Dialogue Over Boycott
Romanian-born Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru created an installation centered on themes of compassion, resilience and coexistence.
Water slowly drips into a pool in timed intervals symbolizing spiritual concepts from Jewish mysticism. Locks engraved with the phrase “Love thy neighbor as thyself” hang around the pavilion, accompanied by the message “This too shall pass.”
Fainaru criticized the jury’s decision to exclude Israel from awards consideration, calling it discriminatory and arguing in favor of dialogue rather than boycotts.
Estonian Pavilion Celebrates Everyday Feminism
In the Estonian Pavilion, artist Merike Estna will continue painting a large mural throughout the Biennale inside a former church that now serves as a community gymnasium.
Her evolving artwork emphasizes the repetitive, often unrecognized labor traditionally associated with women. Curator Natalia Sielewicz described the project as a representation of everyday feminism and the ongoing work of sustaining both life and society.