The 61st Venice Biennale begins in a far from calm atmosphere. The decision to allow Russia to participate has triggered a heated international discussion, with political pressure, resignations, and threats of penalties. After years of absence due to the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow announced its comeback to the event, but was met with hostility from many European countries. The situation has also enraged EU institutions, which have threatened to withdraw financing from the Foundation. The problem has been exacerbated further by the resignation of the international jury, which is opposed to the participation of conflict-affected countries. In an effort to maintain the event's equilibrium, the administrators have implemented new prizes that are awarded directly to visitors. Nevertheless, the Russian pavilion's fate is uncertain, as the sanctions may prevent it from being accessible to the public. This development highlights how fine the border between art and politics can be.