fierce pussy, a collective of lesbian artists, said that its Venice Biennale contribution was censored by the Italian city ahead of the opening of the exhibition today.
The collective designed posters for the Biennale that address queer people and trans people. The phrase “Welcome queers and trans people” appears in both English and Italian on one poster that features the beloved Lion of Venice sculpture, which the group rendered as a cat.
Another poster features the words “we are queers and trans people” alongside a list of occupations, from “your mortician” to “your favorite newscaster.” The list culminates in the words “we are everyone.”
Composed of the artists Nancy Brooks Brody, Joy Episalla, Zoe Leonard, and Carrie Yamaoka, fierce pussy had intended to paste these posters across Venice. But, Episalla wrote on Instagram, the work ended up being “censored by the city.”
“So we went, as per usual, rogue: made stickers – and hit the streets,” Episalla continued, posting images of small versions of the posters affixed to walls, windows, and spaces typically used for advertisements.
Episalla also noted, “As a concession La Biennale has placed the original posters inside the entrance of the Arsenale.”
A spokesperson for the city of Venice did not respond to a request for comment.
fierce pussy is participating in the Biennale via a group called arms ache avid aeon, which is part of “In Minor Keys,” the main exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. That show, along with 100 national pavilions that opened alongside it, began welcoming members of the press on Tuesday.
A detail of a poster designed by fierce pussy for the Venice Biennale.
Courtesy the artists
