An open letter is circulating, in which around 8,700 signatories have so far called for the exclusion of Israel. A total of 90 countries are taking part this year, quite a few of them in the historical arsenal of the lagoon city.
Since its founding in 1895, the main venue for every biennale has been a park on the outskirts of the city; one of the 28 country pavilions there belongs to Israel. Israel is represented by US-born, Tel Aviv-based multimedia artist Ruth Patir.