Artists in the central exhibition, as well as artists, curators and exhibition staff representing 16 national pavilions – from France and Spain to Cyprus and Ecuador – have withdrawn ‘in solidarity with the resignation of the jury selected by Koyo Kouoh’, they said in a statement published on e-flux.
The international jury, which traditionally selects a Golden and Silver Lion, one each for the best National Pavilion and best artist in the Central Pavilion, resigned on 30 April. The Biennale organisers subsequently announced a new ‘Visitor Lion’ award system, subject to a public vote of ‘ticket holders who have visited both exhibition venues during the opening period’.