Poland's new government has opted to replace the Venice Biennale pavilion submission conceived under the previous nationalist-populist administration, leading to accusations of "censorship" from the initially assigned artist. The new culture minister, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, appointed by centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk, announced the withdrawal of the project titled "Polish Exercises in the Tragedy of the World: Between Germany and Russia." This move has generated criticism as it was seen as an ideological gesture by the previous Law and Justice party (PiS) government.
Sienkiewicz, citing community opinions, decided to substitute the original submission with an interactive exhibit by a Ukrainian art collective. The new pavilion entry, titled "Repeat After Me," features a performance video by the Open Group, involving interviews with forcibly displaced Ukrainians recalling memories of war through sound. The video prompts visitors to recreate air raid signals, shelling, and various weaponry sounds, fostering an immersive experience.
The initial project, consisting of 35 works by artist Ignacy Czwartos, including a controversial painting depicting Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin connected by a flaming St Andrew's cross resembling a swastika, faced internal criticism within the Polish art community. Three female jury members had expressed their disapproval, citing the narrative of national victimhood and its misalignment with the inclusive theme of the 60th Venice Biennale.
Czwartos protested the withdrawal of his work, claiming it violated existing regulations. He labeled it as censorship, arguing that the selection occurred according to legal procedures and was accepted by the culture minister. In contrast, co-curator Joanna Warsza, who previously dissented against Czwartos's nomination, welcomed the change, viewing Open Group's proposal as ideologically aligned with values such as openness, tolerance, care, empathy, and opposition to armed conflicts. Warsza expressed relief at the shift in pavilion plans, endorsing the response to the overarching theme of the Venice Biennale: "Foreigners Everywhere!"