8legs: Venice biennale

#2 out of 2

‘It has become a symbol of hope’: the epic journey of Ukraine’s origami deer to the Venice biennale

The concrete origami deer arrived in Venice after a staged overland journey from eastern Europe, finishing at the Ukraine pavilion in the Giardini.
The project, Security Guarantees, frames the deer’s journey as a metaphor for Ukrainian refugees moving across Europe.
The deer’s journey included pauses in Paris and Brussels as it traveled toward Venice, gaining added meaning for locals and refugees.
Kadyrova and co-curator Leonid Marushchak describe the deer as a hopeful symbol for people who survived the war.
The deer is set to be installed near the Giardini entrance, signaling its central role in Ukraine’s Venice pavilion this year.
The journey included evacuations from frontline towns to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage assets.
The deer’s voyage spans multiple European capitals, highlighting transnational support for Ukraine’s arts.
The 2026 Venice Biennale invited Russia back into its national pavilion, stirring debate in the art world.
The Ukrainian pavilion emphasizes a broader, shared struggle rather than an anti-Russian narrative, according to organizers.
The deer’s display will symbolize hope and resilience for Pokrovsk and other Ukrainian communities displaced by war.

Vote 0