Russia returns to the Venice Biennale after a six-year absence, showcasing folk music and electronic performances in its pavilion. The event, titled *The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky*, features artists like the Toloka Ensemble and electronic DJs, aiming to rebuild cultural ties amid strained relations with Ukraine and Europe. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s representative, Zhanna Kadyrova, unveiled her *Security Guarantees* exhibit—a critique of broken post-Soviet promises—with a crane-suspended origami deer symbolizing fragility.

The Biennale faced backlash, including threats to withhold $2.3 million in funding if Russia participated, but organizers defended the move as fostering dialogue. Critics argue the pavilion’s soft-power strategy clashes with ongoing geopolitical tensions.