Venice, May 8, 2026
The already installed artwork by Kazakh artist Asel Kadyrkhanova, which addressed Stalin's terror in the 1930s, was removed from the Maritime History Museum in Venice following instructions from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture.
Allegations of Censorship and Political Pressure
Kadyrkhanova confirmed in a statement on Friday that her work had been "removed from the exhibition on the instruction of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan." The decision came shortly before the planned opening of the exhibition on May 5. The artist reported prior pressure from authorities to "conceptually and aesthetically alter" the piece.
The installation was meant to be part of Kazakhstan's official pavilion at the Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious international art events. Addressing Kazakhstan's Soviet past, particularly the repressions under Stalin, is considered a politically sensitive topic there. Historians estimate that hundreds of thousands of Kazakhs fell victim to deportations and famines during the 1930s.