Ukrainian Venice Biennale sculpture to be presented outside European Parliament on March 18

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna has announced that the concrete sculpture "Origami Deer" from the upcoming Ukrainian pavilion at the Venice Biennale will be presented outside the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) on March 18.

"We will present 'Origami Deer' from the Ukrainian pavilion of the Venice Biennale outside the European Parliament in Brussels on March 18. Before that, we will hold a discussion titled 'Culture as National Security.' Together with artist Zhanna Kadyrova, the project team, EU experts and Members of the European Parliament, we will discuss why culture during wartime is an important element of resilience for both Ukraine and Europe," Berezhna said on Facebook.

She added that the sculpture will be on display from 12:30 on March 18 throughout the day at Esplanade Solidarność 1980 square near the European Parliament building. After Brussels, the sculpture will travel to several European capitals and in May will be presented at the Ukrainian pavilion of the 61st Venice Biennale.

According to Berezhna, the event will also feature the documentary "IDP," which tells the story of the evacuation of "Origami Deer" from Donetsk region.

"The sculpture will become the central object of the Ukrainian pavilion 'Security Guarantees' at the 61st Venice Biennale. 'Origami Deer' has a complicated history. It was created by Zhanna Kadyrova in 2019 for a park in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. In August 2024, when the city came under constant threat of Russian shelling, the sculpture had to be dismantled and evacuated," the deputy prime minister said.

Ukraine has participated in the Venice Biennale since 2001. At this year's Biennale, Ukraine will present the project "Security Guarantees." The central element of the project is Kadyrova's sculpture "Origami Deer," which will be displayed in a public space – on a truck crane on the lagoon embankment.