"Invisible Pavilion" of deceased Ukrainian artists appears at the Venice Biennale

Ukrainian activists have organised a powerful anti-Russian campaign at the Venice Biennale. An ‘Invisible Pavilion’ dedicated to deceased Ukrainian artists has appeared in the city. This is a symbolic art project honouring Ukrainian artists, writers, directors and cultural figures who were killed by Russia.

The pavilion exists only in the form of posters and manifestos placed throughout the city’s streets. They announce exhibitions, film screenings, book launches and artistic events. But each of these announcements is crossed out by a chilling message: ‘CANCELLED, because the author was killed by Russia’.

According to UA Service HUB, the initiative belongs to activists from the Network of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (NAU). QR codes on the posters lead to the digital archive of PEN Ukraine, which contains works, films, books and stories by artists whose voices have been silenced forever by the war.

“The Venice Biennale of Art is a space where countries present their cultural voices and finest contemporary artists to the world. The ‘Invisible Pavilion’ transforms Venice into a space of remembrance for the lives destroyed, the creative paths cut short and the stolen future of Ukrainian culture,” note the campaign’s organisers.