an investigation into china's xinjiang detention camps sparks controversy at the venice biennale

is china exiting this year’s Venice architecture biennale?

The 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale becomes a melting pot of diverse perspectives and impassioned discussions. Amidst the enthusiasm and criticism surrounding the 18th International Architecture Exhibition, yet another contentious development has emerged. An installation titled ‘Investigating Xinjiang’s Network of Detention Camps’ by Alison Killing of Killing Architects, which is part of the main exhibition, The Laboratory of the Future, at the Arsenale, has caused ripples of controversy.

As reported by Decode39, China has withdrawn from this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale over the installation. The Chinese Embassy in Italy has issued a statement surrounding the speculation of Xinjiang-related issues, claiming that it contains false information and deviates from the facts. ‘The Chinese Embassy in Italy has acknowledged that today some Italian media have taken advantage of some Chinese events to speculate again on the issues relating to Xinjiang. The relevant reports seriously deviate from the facts and the so-called ‘evidence’ is based on a large amount of false information. We express our firm objection to this.’

The embassy asserts that there is no ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang and highlights the significant improvements in the region’s Uyghur population, life expectancy, and economic growth. The reports’ reliance on satellite images and testimonials is criticized, with the embassy stating that the images misrepresent public facilities as ‘re-education camps’ and the testimonials lack credibility due to limited sources. Furthermore, they highlight that numerous experts and dignitaries from various countries have visited Xinjiang and acknowledged its progress.

‘Investigating Xinjiang’s Network of Detention Camps’ | image by Marco Zorzanello, © La Biennale di Venezia

Investigating Xinjiang’s Network of Detention Camps

The installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale (more here) delves into the team’s recent investigation into the extensive network of detention camps constructed by the Chinese government in Xinjiang, primarily targeting the mass detention of Muslims. Due to significant challenges faced by journalists in terms of restricted access to Xinjiang, the team employed alternative methods such as satellite imagery, 3D modeling, and analysis of Chinese prison building regulations. Consequently, they found themselves grappling with the issue of meeting journalistic standards when utilizing this information.

‘This lead us to questions about how this information could meet journalistic standards, a question we resolved through corroboration of satellite imagery through other means and through communicating clearly to readers about our level of certainty that each site was a detention camp,’ shared the team.

In the gallery, there is a four-sided setup that showcases a mural of the Mongolküre detention camp, skillfully illustrated by Jan Rothuizen, on a spacious white backdrop. Painted in dark gray shades, one of the walls features portraits of former detainees captured through the lens of Ekaterina Anchevskaya. As visitors step into this space, they are enveloped by a thought-provoking film presented by Killing, skillfully weaving together a series of satellite images, poignant text, and various other visuals depicting these detention camps.

the project explores the network of detention camps built by the Chinese government in Xinjiang for the mass detention of Muslims | image by Marco Zorzanello, © La Biennale di Venezia

Within the official Biennale catalog, Killing elaborates in her statement: ‘Architectural and spatial analysis tools have been critical in a series of recent groundbreaking investigative journalism projects, enabling investigations to be carried out that would not have been previously possible. Such projects have recently attracted much attention within the architectural profession, but the working methods, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration between architects and journalists are far less well understood or pursued.’

image by Marco Zorzanello, © La Biennale di Venezia

Pavilion of china at the 2023 Venice Biennale

The focal point of China’s National Pavilion at the 2023 Venice International Architecture Biennale is the evolution and improvements observed in China’s architectural landscape and living environments over the past four decades.

The exhibition showcases the artistic creations and conceptual designs of Chinese architects, which harmoniously integrate community and nature, as well as tradition and modernity. Ruan Xing, the curator of the pavilion, explained that the exhibition’s objective is to narrate the remarkable progress and wisdom of China in urban development, architecture, and the lives of its residents.

designboom reached out to La Biennale’s press office for comments. At the moment of writing, the organization has confirmed that the pavilion regularly opened during the preview days on May 18 and 19, with the official inauguration taking place on May 22.