Venice, May 8, 2026
Several national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, including the Austrian Pavilion, remained closed on Friday due to a protest against Israel's participation.
Participating Countries and Activists
The action was organized by the activist group "Art Not Genocide Alliance" (ANGA). Alongside Austria, the pavilions of Belgium, Egypt, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea also joined the strike. Signs reading "We stand with Palestine" were visible in front of some pavilions.
The Austrian Pavilion, showcasing the work of Florentina Holzinger, was closed from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The team behind the project "Seaworld Venice" consists of members from over 17 nations. Some of them chose to participate in the strike, as reported by the New York Times.
Controversy Over Kazakh Pavilion
In addition to the protests, controversy arose in the Kazakh Pavilion. An artwork by Asel Kadyrchanova was removed. The artist accused Kazakh Culture Minister Aida Balayeva of censorship. Initially, representatives of the pavilion claimed the removal was due to restrictions imposed by the Italian hosts.