Journalist Omar El Akkad’s viral aphorism, “one day, everyone will have always been against this,” hangs solemnly over the art-world Olympics. At this week’s Venice Biennale previews, so far, the protests are louder than the art — as is the silence of those who choose not to speak up.
Hyperallergic Editor-in-Chief Hakim Bishara reports from a roaring rally outside the Israeli pavilion, where South African artist Nolan Oswald Dennis tells him that protesting is “an artist’s duty.” Avedis Hadjian covers a pink smoke-filled Pussy Riot and FEMEN action against Russia’s participation, and Staff Reporter Rhea Nayyar has the latest on the Biennale jury’s sudden decision to resign.
Stay on top of Venice news with our writers on the ground this week, and read on for shows to see in Upstate New York, a glimpse into the life of Jack Kerouac, and a tribute to art figures we recently lost.
—Valentina Di Liscia, senior editor
Hundreds Protest Israel’s “Genocide Pavilion” at Venice Biennale
Activists led by the Art Not Genocide Alliance blocked the entrance to Israel’s pavilion while waving Palestinian flags on the first day of exhibition previews. | Hakim Bishara
Steel And Shadows Converge in “Larry Kagan: Men”
Opening May 9 at Louis K. Meisel Gallery in New York City, this exhibition invites viewers to reconsider sculpture and perception.
More Biennale News
- Activists from the art collective Pussy Riot and FEMEN, a Ukrainian feminist movement, protested Russia’s participation in this year’s Venice Biennale.
- Israeli pavilion artist Belu-Simion Fainaru made legal threats against the Venice Biennale for alleged antisemitism and discrimination before its jury resigned.
New York Shows
10 Exhibitions to See in Upstate New York This May
Irina Lotarevich’s edgy minimalism, Koyoltzintli’s investigations into a sacred object, Daniele Frazier’s explorations in camera-less photography, and more. | Taliesin Thomas
Shoot the Shit With Jack Kerouac
In NYC, an exhibition of cherished letters, photographs, and talismans brings us into the daily life of the reluctant Beat Generation icon. | Greta Rainbow
Parallax(e): Perspectives on the Canada–US Border
Works by five Indigenous artists respond to the legacy of the Northwest Boundary Survey (1857–62) in this exhibition at The Reach. On view through May 30.
In Memoriam
Steven Durland, Champion of Performance Art, Dies at 75
A longtime editor of High Performance magazine in Los Angeles, Durland maintained his own practice while advocating for the art form. | Liz Hirsch
Remembering Georg Baselitz, Nicole Hollander, and Doris Fisher
This week, we honor a German Neo-Expressionist, the creator of the “Sylvia” comic strip, and an arts patron behind SFMOMA.
From the Archive
Capturing the Elusive Magic of California’s Golden Light
Artists have long been drawn to California’s sun-cloaked landscapes. But now, this idyllic light might be fading against the backdrop of social inequalities and rising air pollution. | Renée Reizman
