Controversial Censorship Concerns Surround Poland's Venice Biennale Pavilion
Poland's selection for the Venice Biennale pavilion, Ignacy Czwartos, faces controversy as his exhibition concept is discarded following a shift in the country's government Censorship claims surround the decision, raising concerns about artistic freedom and political interference
This article was first published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style.
The artist chosen to represent Poland at the 2024 Venice Biennale has denounced the new Polish government's cancellation of his project for the prestigious exhibition as an act of "censorship."
Content Ignacy Czwartos' project, selected by the previous administration, was canceled by the Ministry of Culture under new Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Czwartos had proposed an exhibition titled "Polish Practice in Tragedy. Between Germany and Russia," which had been chosen in an open competition and recommended by a jury convened by Warsaw's ZachÄta National Gallery of Art, according to The Art Newspaper.
Last year, critics opposed the proposal, claiming it was too closely connected to the Law and Justice party's agenda. The backlash against Czwartos' nomination came from former ZachÄta Gallery staff and three members of the museums jury.
Poland's Ministry of Culture revealed on October 31 that it planned to showcase an exhibition by Czwartos at the national pavilion during the Biennale. This announcement came during a period of uncertainty following the general election on October 15, as the country awaited the formation of its next government. Although PiS had secured the most seats in the election, they were unable to secure a majority. Donald Tusk, an opposition politician, ultimately formed a new centrist coalition government and became Prime Minister on December 13. Tusk had previously served as Poland's Prime Minister between 2007 and 2014, as well as President of the European Council.
"The selection was conducted in accordance with legal procedures and the competition jury's verdict was approved by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. I have also signed a contract with ZachÄta Gallery, the institution responsible for organizing the exhibition," Czwartos stated.
"However, on December 29th, I was informed that the new Minister of Culture and National Heritage, BartÅomiej Sienkiewicz, has halted the project. No reasons were provided to explain this decision, and furthermore, it goes against current regulations. I consider it to be an act of censorship."
The future of political art in Hong Kong is uncertain as Beijing strengthens its control. According to an online statement from the Polish Ministry of Culture, they have decided not to implement the Czwartos project after analyzing the competition procedures for the exhibition and gathering the opinions and voices of the communities.
The Art Newspaper's request for further comment from the Ministry of Culture went unanswered. As a result, the country will be represented by the Open Group, a collective consisting of Yuriy Biley, Pavlo Kovach, and Anton Varga.
ZachÄta Gallery spokesperson informed The Art Newspaper that, in accordance with regulations, Sienkiewicz approved the alternate exhibition project, Repeat after Me, curated by Marta Czyż and featuring Open Group. The ZachÄ™ta National Gallery of Art will continue to be responsible for organizing and producing the (Biennale) exhibition, as well as overseeing the Polish Pavilion in Venice. In a surprising turn of events, a Ukrainian artist and their curators present Fountain of Exhaustion in Venice.
The Biennale proposal document describes Czwartos' exhibition as "a thought-provoking exploration by a modern Polish artist of the tragic history of the 20th century."
Czwartos explained, "Through a series of paintings and objects, my project delves into the Polish experience of the clash between Soviet communism and German National Socialism. The project also addresses current events, particularly Putin's aggressive actions in Ukraine. It is not intended as an anti-European project, but rather as a reflection on the forces that have previously and currently threatened Europe."
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