‘Putin didn’t win; art won’: Venice Biennale president defends decision to allow Russia’s participation

Venice Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco defended allowing Russia to participate in the 61st Venice Biennale, saying “Putin didn’t win; art won,” in an interview with Corriere della Sera published on 1 September. The Biennale, which opened in May, faced protests over both Israel’s and Russia’s participation, and Italy’s culture minister Alessandro Giuli boycotted the opening, claiming “Putin had won at the Biennale.” Russia’s Giardini pavilion closed after previews amid EU warnings about potential sanctions breaches, and in July the EU cut a €2m grant to the Biennale. Buttafuoco said he would make the same decision again and argued that denying freedom of expression based on nationality contradicts EU rights principles.

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