At this event, Julia Bethwaite discusses the role of art in international relations and world politics, focusing on central art institutions such as the Venice Biennale and fine art museums. The field of art engages different forms of power across various fields, transcending national borders and engaging both state and non-state actors.
Studying influential art institutions can reveal concealed power dynamics both concerning specific nation-states as well as international and transnational realms. It can show how symbolic power operates and how elites, while utilizing the field of art, take positions across different fields and national borders.
This talk highlights the case of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Many Russian high-profile business tycoons support art through their art foundations by donating Russian art to the leading European museums and establishing centers of Russian art in Europe’s capital cities of culture, while other representatives of the oligarchic elite are directly involved with Russia’s representation on major international art platforms such as the Venice Biennale. Taking positions in such heteronomous settings, actors struggle for power and aim to legitimize their positions by accumulating and converting capital of different types.
SPEAKER
Julia Bethwaite, Doctoral Researcher in International Relations at the Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University and Research Associate at the Global Governance Centre
DISCUSSANT
Stéphanie Ginalski, Senior Lecturer, University of Lausanne
MODERATOR
Annabelle Littoz-Monnet, Professor, International Relations/Political Science and Director of the Global Governance Centre, the Graduate Institute
*** Lunch will be provided ***
Photo by labiennale.org