With the Venice Biennale — often dubbed the art world’s Olympics — set to commence in just two weeks, significant announcements are surfacing. The awards jury revealed today that it will exclude artists from countries charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, specifically Israel and Russia. Staff Writer Rhea Nayyar provides further insights in her report below. Meanwhile, Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian has crafted an indispensable guide to navigating this expansive exhibition, offering unparalleled clarity and depth, especially for this year’s promising edition.
In other developments, recent satellite images have confirmed Azerbaijan’s demolition of a notable church in Artsakh, continuing its assault on Armenian cultural heritage. This action comes mere days before the anniversary of the genocide. Additionally, the World Press Photo of the Year awards have been declared, honoring Carol Guzy’s poignant photograph of ICE agents detaining a father while his daughters cling to him in distress.
— Lisa Yin Zhang, associate editor
