The Venice Art Biennale is actually held every two years.
It should have been arranged last year but then had to be postponed for a year due to the corona pandemic.
But on Saturday, it was finally time for the official inauguration.
It was an emotional event, according to SVT Sápmi's reporter on site.
Both the world situation and indigenous rights were highlighted.
Indigenous activist was hailed
As usual, the golden lions were handed out to the main participants.
Despite the praise in the international press, no prizes went to Sápmi's pavilion.
The main prize went instead to the UK.
But indigenous rights were still mentioned.
Cecilia Vicuna, an artist, poet and activist who has long fought for indigenous rights in Chile, was awarded a golden lion for her life's work.
And the Inuit artist Shuvinai Ashoona received a special mention for her participation in the international exhibition.
"She shows a life where species are interdependent, and not governed by the colonial power of the human species," the jury found.
"Several cried"
After several rainy days in Venice, the sun shone when it was finally time for the inauguration.
Which was a relief for the art audience who largely got to follow the ceremony on screens outside.
Among them was also SVT Sápmi's reporter Mikaela Sjöstedt.
- The prize winners have been emotional, several cried when they received their prize.
It is prestigious to exhibit and be praised here, but I also think it is noticeable that there has been a pandemic that has affected the art world and the artists, who have not been able to have exhibitions, she says.
For those who want to take part in art, there is plenty of time.
The Venice Art Biennale will run until the end of November this year.