THE 60th Venice Biennale opened amid controversy, as groups of protesters appeared across the city denouncing Israel’s actions in occupied Gaza. At the Israel Pavilion, its own artists and curators refused to open the show unless there is a ceasefire and return of hostages.

Elsewhere, visitors are boycotting the pavilions of countries such as the UK and Germany, whose governments support the actions of Israel. This despite the fact that both countries have put up strong showcases by artists and curators who were not born in these countries, as a sign of shifting attitudes towards immigration and new citizens.

This year’s biennale carries the theme Foreigners Everywhere, coined by its influential curator Adriano Pedrosa who wanted to explore contemporary global crises related to migration, ethnicity, sexuality, identity and belonging. The event’s main exhibition features artists from indigenous, traditional, migrant, exiled and LGBTQ+ communities that have long been overlooked by the global arts community.