More than 70 Venice Biennale artists withdraw from awards

More than 70 artists participating in the 61st Venice Biennale have withdrawn from consideration for the event’s awards, according to a protest statement published on e-flux on May 9. Signatories from the main exhibition “In Minor Keys” (organized by the late curator Koyo Kouoh and realized by five collaborators) and from 22 national pavilions said they acted in solidarity with the resignation of Kouoh’s five-person jury, which quit amid disputes over Israel and Russia’s participation. The Biennale replaced the traditional jury prizes with “Visitors’ Lions” decided by public vote from May 9 to November 22, with results to be announced at the show’s close; a Biennale spokesperson said that if withdrawing artists win, they will not collect the award. Artists named in the statement include Walid Raad, Alice Maher, Laurie Anderson, Pio Abad, and Alfredo Jaar, and pavilion signatories include Yto Barrada (France), Isabel Nolan (Ireland), Egle Budvytyte (Lithuania), and Dries Verhoeven (Netherlands).

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