Origami Deer Flees Ukraine for Venice Biennale

A concrete sculpture, known as the "Origami Deer," has been rescued from Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russian forces, and is now touring six European countries. Created in 2019 by artist Zhanna Kadyrova, the deer is set to be a central piece at the 61st Venice Biennale, representing Ukraine in the pavilion titled "Security Guarantees." This journey from a destroyed city to an international art platform underscores the plight of millions displaced by the conflict. The sculpture's design, resembling paper origami, serves as a poignant reminder of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances that proved illusory.

The "Origami Deer" has already been exhibited in Warsaw, Vienna, and Prague as part of its European tour, with future stops planned for Berlin, Brussels, and Paris. This tour precedes its main exhibition at the Venice Biennale, an event running from May 9 to November 22. The inclusion of Russian artists in the Biennale has ignited significant international protest, leading to threats of funding cuts from the European Union. Ukrainian representatives have voiced their strong opposition to Russia's participation, questioning the decision to allow cultural representation from a nation engaged in an invasion. The sculpture's journey and its symbolic meaning are intended to draw global attention to Ukraine's situation and the broader implications of international security agreements.

Artist Zhanna Kadyrova stated that the deer symbolizes "millions of Ukrainians who have lost their home." Historian Leonid Marushchak, who has been involved in evacuating art from eastern Ukraine since the war began, has undertaken perilous missions to save cultural artifacts, including a 700-year-old stone lion from Bakhmut. The Venice Biennale, a major international exhibition, typically attracts over 600,000 visitors. While the Ukrainian team is not planning a direct protest at the Biennale, they hope for community action to influence the decision regarding Russian participation.