Overview
- The exhibition, which opened to the public Saturday, drew long lines as the planned prize ceremony was scrapped after the international jury resigned.
- Dozens of national pavilions closed for parts of the day in solidarity with protests over Israel’s participation, with signs and statements posted on their doors.
- Russia’s pavilion played videos at the threshold but kept visitors out because it lacked a municipal permit for public events, a constraint tied to EU sanctions.
- Vice Premier Matteo Salvini visited Friday, backed Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco’s stance on open participation, and brushed off EU funding threats, saying Italy could forgo “their €2 million.”
- With the jury gone, the Biennale introduced visitor-voted “Lions,” and by late Saturday 52 artists said they would refuse the new prizes in solidarity with the resigned jurors.