On 6 May, during the previews of the Venice Biennale, the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian pavilions held a march in solidarity with Ukraine, its people, culture and artists.
The events were dedicated to Ukrainian cultural figures who continue to create and represent their country amidst the war, as well as to those who have lost their lives due to the ongoing violence, according to the co-organisers of the event — a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art and a multifunctional centre for art and culture.
The participants and organisers aimed to express their support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which is being systematically damaged and destroyed by the Russian army. The route began at the Lithuanian Pavilion, passed through the Arsenale, where the Latvian Pavilion is located, and ended near the Estonian Pavilion. The line thus formed was intended to symbolise a shared commitment to stand together in the face of injustice and to highlight the role of culture as a space of resilience, memory and freedom.
The organisers’ page states that this act carries particular historical resonance for the Baltic states. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia regained their independence more than three decades ago following a long period of occupation by the Soviet Union. In 1989, the peoples of these three countries came together to form the 675-kilometre Baltic Way — a peaceful demonstration of unity and resolve in the face of oppression. The walk during the biennial thus served as an echo of that gesture.
“This walk is a modest yet collective gesture. It is a moment to acknowledge, bear witness to and express solidarity with the people of Ukraine and with the enduring significance of culture in times of profound crisis,” the organisers stated.