A private meeting away from the spotlight marked the end of tensions between Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and Biennale Foundation president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The occasion was Giuli’s visit to the Venice Biennale following weeks of friction linked to the controversy over the Russian pavilion.
The minister’s arrival in Venice quickly turned into a moment of reconciliation. “My friendship with Buttafuoco has never faded,” Giuli said, “but institutional truth and responsibility must always come first.” According to the minister, the visit definitively closes the dispute while respecting the traditions and autonomy of the Biennale Foundation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Giuli emphasized the renewed harmony between the two figures. “Everything went well, as it naturally should have. The peace between us is evident,” he stated.
The Biennale also confirmed the easing of tensions, although it avoided directly referencing the Russian pavilion affair. Instead, the focus shifted toward the future of the artworks currently on display. Buttafuoco proposed relocating selected works to museums, public institutions, and cultural venues across Italy to ensure broader accessibility and long-term preservation.