Biennial, Russian artist Zakharov protests war in Ukraine. Removed

The war in Ukraine enters the Venice Biennale. On Wednesday morning, at the Giardini, during the first day of the pre-opening, Russian artist Vadim Zakharov, who represented his country at the 2013 Biennale, went with a sign in front of the Russia Pavilion (this year closed due to the withdrawal of artists and curators) to protest the conflict and his country. However, he was blocked by the security services: he was given a few minutes to be allowed to give interviews to journalists who were in the area at the time, and then, after that, he was turned away.

“I, the artist Vadim Zakharov,” read the sign he unfurled in front of the closed building, “represented the Pavilion of Russia in 2013 with the project ’Danaë’. I protest Russia’s propaganda and the Russian invasion that led to the war in Ukraine. The murder of women, children and the Ukrainian people is a disgrace to Russia. I am standing here in front of the Russian pavilion against the war and against the Russian government’s cultural ties.” Zakharov remained silent for the time he was able to display his sign. When he was joined by security services, the poster was removed.

Zakharov had already expressed his position on the conflict in Ukraine last April 6 in a lengthy statement posted on his social channels in Russian and German. “I, the artist Vadim Zakharov,” he stated two weeks ago, “hereby prohibit the exhibition of my artworks kept in Russian museums and art collections, in Russia. Today everyone has to decide for himself or herself what to do about the war in Ukraine, which began in 2014 and reached its bloody climax in 2022.” Propaganda, the artist explains, “has spread among us like a virus, infested our cells waiting to fall on fertile ground. This is what Putin’s propaganda has created. War has created within us a terrible monster that treacherously transforms and subverts all meaning. How to respond depends on each individual. As I did 45 years ago, I am on the side of freedom, and in this case, it means being on the side of Ukraine.”

Biennial, Russian artist Zakharov protests war in Ukraine. Removed

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