The Culture of Dialogue and the Dialogue of Culture
by Emiliana Mannese
If I were to give a title to these reflections, I would call it: The Culture of Dialogue and the Dialogue of Culture. I am referring to the political debate that arose when the Venice Biennale Foundation, chaired by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, opened the Venice Biennale to Russia and Iran. I was deeply astonished by the European, and consequently Italian, reaction to this decision. The twenty-two European ministers, including our own, are drafting a document in which they warn La Biennale that funding will be cut off should they confirm this decision, and threaten to place the organisation under administration.
I would have expected Europe to take a strong stand when the opportunity arose to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, but it did not. The United States attacks Iran unilaterally, with no regard for international law or NATO agreements. On such occasions, all we hear are feeble statements, stammering, and complicit silence. When, on the world stage, a space for dialogue opens through culture – the cultures that the Biennale embodies, always in its total independence and strength, a strength that only human culture can provide – an unjustified, specious attack is launched against a free and autonomous institution.
A geopolitical short circuit. Put simply, they did not expect the greatest cultural institution in our contemporary history to choose to act in line with its mission: cultural dialogue as a prerequisite for peace.
Caught off guard, Europe – which remains in a difficult and subservient position – decides to commission a document launching a fierce attack on La Biennale and President Buttafuoco’s decision.
Our Minister Giuli has also signed this document. I am utterly incredulous at this escalation. Let us be clear about this: what does the La Biennale Foundation actually do? Evidently, Europe, its ministers, and its bureaucrats are unaware of the real actions this institution undertakes and what it represents for the contemporary world – especially this contemporary world inhabited by dwarves and dancers, where the concept of transformative culture is an unknown, uncomfortable category, all the more uncomfortable because it is demanding. Culture and its highest expressions require work, effort, and, above all, knowledge and vision.
The Venice Biennale is a cultural institution which, by engaging with all aspects of culture, supports and strengthens the only real chance humanity has of surviving barbarism: the language of Paideia, the cultural force capable of building communities of women and men who are self-aware and capable of deciding upon and shaping possible futures. The Biennale is a cultural bastion. For all peoples.
Now, returning to the madness of recent days, one way to begin talking about peace is to set in motion aprocess of a culture of dialogue, and to do so, we must move beyond punitive hypocrisy.
Only by taking the first step can a path be set in motion.
I believe that the Buttafuoco Biennale is on the right side of history. His Biennale does not sell weapons; his Biennale speaks of Culture, of Education, of Thinking Communities. This global politics does not understand the meaning of these words, nor is it interested in the concept of Culture and Community. But Buttafuoco and his Biennale stand tall. I am certain of it. Anyone working for the Culture of Dialogue has the strength to bring about change.
Wishing you good work ahead
