Finnish Culture Minister Pulls Out of Venice Biennale in Russia Participation Protest

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Finland’s political leaders will not participate in the Venice Biennale should plans for a Russian pavilion move ahead, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture announced yesterday.

Finland’s science and culture minister Mari-Leena Talvitie has cancelled plans to attend the biennale and will not officially open the Finnish or Nordic pavilions, as is customary, and the country will instead send public officials.

In a statement, the department said: “Finland’s position on Russia’s participation in international forums is clear: participation must not be permitted as long as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine continues. 

“...Finland will continue to demonstrate steadfast support to Ukraine and commitment to promoting democratic values and European co-operation.”

This latest development follows several weeks of international outcry following news that Russia would participate in the biennale for the first time since 2019.

Earlier this week, la Repubblica reported that the European Commission had accused the biennale of violating European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia.

According to a letter seen by the Italian newspaper, the biennale was given 30 days to respond to the allegations, or risk losing funding from the commission worth €2 million (£1.74 million), intended for the next edition of the exhibition.

In a statement last month, in which the independent EU body first threatened to pull the funding, executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy Henna Virkkunen and Glenn Micallef, commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport, said the biennale’s decision to include Russia was  “not compatible with the EU’s collective response to Russia’s brutal aggression”.

Also in March, Talvitie was among 22 European culture ministers who signed a letter calling on Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the biennale, to reconsider Russia’s involvement.

The letter highlighted the signatories’ “deep concern” that a Russian pavilion will “project an image of legitimacy and international acceptance that stands in stark contrast to the reality of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage, and European and international sanctions”.

Finland’s political boycott will not impact the country’s pavilion or exhibiting artist Jenna Sutela, who is due to present Aeolian Suite.

Curated by Stefanie Hessler, the show will unfold as a multisensory environment, and is intended to transform the pavilion into a windscape of sound and movement. 

Talvitie said: “...We believe promoting Finnish art and cultural expression, and supporting artists and actors is important. For this reason, Finland will have public officials participating in the biennale.”

Venice Biennale did not respond to Ocula’s request for comment. 

However, in a statement issued alongside its announcement of all participating artists last month, the biennale said: “In response to the communications and requests for participation from countries, La Biennale di Venezia rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art.

“La Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness, and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with enduring hope for the cessation of conflicts and suffering.”