VIDEO // Moldova debuts at Venice Biennale for the first time; Moldovan culture minister describes action at moment of pride, opportunity to promote country's artists, art

Moldova is taking part, for the first time, in one of the most prestigious international platforms for contemporary art – the Venice Biennale, with the project, On the Thousand and Second Night, created by artist Pavel Brăila and curated by Adelina Luft. This marks the country’s first official presence at this landmark event.

In Venice, Culture Minister Cristian Jardan highlighted the importance of this moment for the international visibility of Moldova and for the development of cultural diplomacy.

“I am in Venice, where Moldova is officially participating, for the first time, with the support of the Culture Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, in the largest and most important contemporary art event in the world – the Venice Biennale. It is a moment of pride and an opportunity to promote our artists and our art around the world,” the minister said.

The project, On the Thousand and Second Night, presents a complex art installation in which carpets suspended by drones symbolically transform the idea of technology associated with threat into a gesture of protection and solidarity. The work combines the tradition of the Moldovan carpet with references to the imagery of One Thousand and One Nights, exploring such subjects as memory, fragility, and cultural continuity in a global context marked by uncertainty.

The installation is hosted in the Santa Veneranda space, part of the Chiesa dei Santi Geremia e Lucia complex in Venice, and is open to the public free of charge.

Moldova’s participation is carried out with a budget of approximately 5 million lei, supplemented through partnerships and sponsorships, in accordance with the legal framework.

The Venice Biennale is one of the oldest and most prestigious art events in the world, founded in Venice, Italy, in 1895. Initially conceived as an international visual art exhibition, it has over time expanded to become a major global platform for contemporary art, architecture, dance, music, theatre and film. The Biennale is held every two years, during several months, mainly between May and November, bringing together national pavilions and artistic projects from around the world.