The Venice Biennale Incident – 23 June 2001

While travelling to the Venice Biennale, to the sealed neutralised space of international art, I found myself crossing fragile boundaries. By photographing a picket of anti- capitalist protestors outside the exhibition, I found myself on the wrong side of the Italian police and the biennale security. Outside the Biennale gates, suspicion rests with anyone who photographs, who witnesses what is going on. Inside the pavilions it is art.

11:05 - I arrived to the biennale gates at the Giardini with my partner. It was 11:05 and I bought my student’s concession ticket (I am a research student at Chelsea College of Art, London). The presence of Italian riot police attracted my attention and I asked a member of staff (who carried a radio) why they were at the gates of the biennale. He replied that they expected a demonstration.

11:30 - Half an hour later I saw the riot police taking position in front of the biennale gate. There were about 10-15 policemen in riot police gear. Other people in plain cloths, some holding radios and truncheons, were watching a group of 20-25 protestors making their way from the vaporetto- stop to the small clearing in front of the gates. The peaceful demonstration denounced the shooting policy of the Swedish authorities in Goteborg, claimed the right to protest against the G8 summit in Genoa and criticised the campaign of Italian media that stains the whole movement as criminals. A few protestors attached a banner to the flag poles and handed out leaflets. I went out towards the happening, took photographs of the whole event and asked for a leaflet. The protestors left after a short while.

11:30-12:00 – I turned to get back into the biennale. A senior policeman in a brown suit called me over and demanded my film. I was told that I photographed the police and it is forbidden, and I have to give the police my film. I tried to negotiate with the senior policeman and the video camera policemen in order to keep my documentation of the event (as well as few personal photographs I took in another place). At this stage the senior policemen showed me his papers, insisted that I have to give the film and said that a day in the police station will convince me to give them my film. A member of staff from the biennale who presented himself as head of the security advised me to hand my film to the police and avoid being taken to the police station. I decided to open my camera and expose the film. I was let go.

12:00-12:15 – It was not the end of the incident. Just when I was making my way back through the entrance I was asked for my ticket by two people in plain cloths (one in blue and one in yellow). They were not standing on the doors neither were they carrying any identification. They were speaking Italian, letting me understand in rough gestures and tones of speech that I should get lost. They did not let me back into the exhibition area and the two guards adopted this same stand. My partner who speaks Italian came and continued the negotiations. Two more women and a plain cloths person (black beard, white shirt) joined in on behalf of the biennale\ security forces. At this stage my partner’s bag was searched by the “blue” person, all personal belongings taken out and examined.

12:15- 12:20 - The plain cloths person (black beard, white shirt) took our details and phoned the hotel where we were staying. Only then after confirming our details were we allowed to continue our visit to the biennale. He then apologised for the inconvenience adding that he hoped we understood that “the situation was very dangerous”.


Zuky Serper, London  serperzig@hotmail.com