Italian art and culture also come to terms with the war in Ukraine. Russia will not be present at the 59th Venice Art Biennale which will be held from April 23 to November 27. The artists Alexandra Sukhareva and Kirill Savchenkov, with the consent of the curator Raimundas Malaauskas, have decided not to participate in the Biennale because of the situation that has arisen for the conflict triggered by Russia against Ukraine. Faced with this dramatic event, the voice of art has decided to remain silent. As reported by the Ansa agency, Alexandra Sukhareva wrote about her on Instagram tagging her colleague Kirill Savchenkov for sharing that "There is no place for art when civilians die in rocket fire. When citizens of Ukraine hide in shelters and when protesters in Russia are silenced".
The solidarity of the Biennale with Russian artists
The doors of the Russian Pavilion in the Gardens of Sant'Elena will therefore remain closed, and the Biennial acknowledges this with a press release in which "He expresses full solidarity for this courageous and noble act and shares the reasons that led to this choice, which dramatically depicts the tragedy in which the entire population of Ukraine finds itself". With a consideration that emphasizes the role of this important cultural institution. "The Biennale remains the meeting place between peoples through the arts and culture and condemns those who violently prevent dialogue in the sign of peace". A courageous choice that of the two artists and of the curator of the Russian Pavilion who in turn resigned. It comes immediately after that of Elena Kovalskaya, the director of the Moscow State Theater who three days ago announced her resignation in a post on her Facebook page.
Uncertain opening for the Ukrainian Pavilion
If there is no Russian Pavilion, the opening of the Ukraine Pavilion in the Arsenale remains uncertain. According to the latest news, the curators Lizaveta German, Maria Lanko and Borys Filonenko and the artist Pavlo Makov have not yet guaranteed participation because they fear they will not be able to carry out their project. Comprehensibly. The team in charge of the set-up would still be in Ukraine. Where the situation is now so difficult that it is not possible to work and make predictions, also given the approaching deadline of the next Biennale. At the moment, however, there are no official statements from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
The Teatro alla Scala against the war and the case of the director Gergiev
In Italy the war in Ukraine also reaches the La Scala Theater in Milan. La Scala would in fact intend to cancel the collaboration with the famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev because he did not distance himself from the war. As requested by the mayor of the Lombard capital Beppe Sala who is also president of the Opera Theater Foundation. And that he practically ruled out - "I don't think there will be" he declared - that the Russian director will step on the podium at La Scala on March 5th as planned.
On stage with a yellow and blue band the Ukrainian conductor of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna
And the war also affects the Municipal Theater of Bologna whose conductor is Ukrainian Oksana Lyniv, the first woman to hold this role in an Italian lyric-symphonic foundation. Two days ago she showed up on stage with a yellow and blue band that encircled her hips, the colors of the flag of her country. "I want to thank you all", he said. By adding "To survive in this tragic situation we need your help, your support. Of closeness to Ukraine which is fighting for its freedom and democracy". Lyniv wanted to dedicate the concert to her family members who still live in Ukraine, and "to my deeply wounded land".
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