A strange performance at the Venice Biennale 2026 has gone viral online. It features Austrian artist and choreographer Florentina Holzinger, who created an installation called Seaworld Venice.
In this artwork at the Austrian Pavilion, Holzinger hangs upside down without clothes inside a large bronze bell placed above the entrance. She moves her body so it hits the bell, creating loud sounds. The performance is meant to act as a warning about climate change, especially the risk of floods and environmental disaster.
Who Is Florentina Holzinger?
Florentina Holzinger is widely known for creating controversial and physically intense performances using all-female casts and themes connected to feminism, body politics, and environmental issues.
For the 2026 Venice Biennale, her installation Seaworld Venice was designed as a dramatic warning about climate catastrophe and the future risk of flooding in Venice. The bell used in the installation reportedly came from the bottom of a nearby river and carries the Latin inscription “TEMPORA O MORES,” a phrase expressing regret over moral decline and longing for the values of the past.
Performance Video Sparks Massive Social Media Reaction
Videos from the performance quickly spread across social media platforms, where many users reacted strongly to the nudity and unusual presentation style. Several online comments mocked or criticised the installation, with some questioning why climate activism often involves nudity. Others made inappropriate remarks directed at the performer. Despite the backlash, the performance has drawn major global attention and become one of the most talked-about exhibits at the Biennale.
Protest Erupts Over Russia’s Return to Venice Biennale
The controversy surrounding the Biennale intensified further after activists protested against Russia’s return to the event for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.
During press preview events on Wednesday, members of Ukrainian feminist activist group Femen and Russian protest collective Pussy Riot staged demonstrations outside the Russian pavilion. The protesters wore pink balaclavas, appeared topless, and released pink smoke bombs while criticising Russia’s participation in the exhibition.
Why Russia’s Participation Sparked Global Criticism
Russia’s inclusion in the Venice Biennale 2026 triggered strong criticism from political leaders in Italy and officials from the European Union. Reports said the EU even threatened to withdraw nearly two million euros in funding linked to the event.
Last week, the Biennale jury also resigned after saying they would not present awards to countries led by figures facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court, including Russia and Israel.
Russian Pavilion Will Not Open to General Public
Although Russia has officially returned to the Biennale, the Russian pavilion itself will reportedly remain closed to the public during the exhibition, which runs from May 9 to November 22.
Instead of a traditional public exhibit, organisers said musical performances connected to the Russian presentation titled the tree is rooted in the sky would be recorded during press preview days and later shown on giant outdoor screens.
Biennale President Defends Russia’s Inclusion
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco defended the decision to include Russia despite the backlash. “If the Biennale were to start selecting not works but affiliations, not visions but passports, it would cease to be what it has always been: the place where the world comes together, and all the more so when the world is torn apart,” he told reporters. He added that organisers should not respond to international conflicts through automatic cultural boycotts.
