This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Mimicking the Russian military involvement in east Ukraine, a group of Ukrainian artists and activists have staged a mock-occupation of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, descending on the venue in camouflage fatigues.

The artists then urged visiting tourists to take selfies wearing military uniforms they handed out.



The uniforms had the words “On Vacation” printed on them, a reference to the now-infamous remarks during Russia’s 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, when the separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko said the Russian soldiers were enjoying a “vacation ... among brothers who are fighting for their freedom”.

On their website, the activists are asking visitors to the Venice Bienniale art show to find an #onvacation representative, as they call themselves, put on a uniform and then take a selfie in “an occupying power of your choice” and post it to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #onvacation.

“#onvacation challenges the viewer to actualise their opinions and beliefs about their understanding and experience of occupation,” said a statement on the website.

It added: “The project offers an entirely genuine engagement in a well-known structure – the free vacation sweepstakes, but it also positions this engagement in a conflict that is constantly denied by the occupying power.”

The winner of a random draw on 9 June will win a trip to Russian-occupied Crimea, the website claims. Some entries have already been posted on Twitter.

Alisa Ruban (@AlisaRuban) #Ukraine artists staged action in russia pavilion at #BiennaleArte2015 wearing military uniform #onvacation #greenmen pic.twitter.com/8qcV5z9RsW

The organisers have remained anonymous but one person who took part in the stunt told the Guardian he was joined by a number of Ukrainian activists and artists who wanted to make a statement about Russia’s actions in the conflict.

“We’ve had artists and writers and all kinds of different people. We decided Venice was the perfect place to go on holiday.”

The Russian government has denied the overwhelming evidence that its soldiers were active in eastern Ukraine, claiming Russian soldiers operating in the country were either lost or on holiday. Russia also initially denied that the “little green men” who took over Crimea were Russian soldiers. However, President Vladimir Putin admitted in a recent documentary that they were Russian.

The Russian pavilion is relaxed about the artistic invasion, a spokesperson said.

“They came here on Wednesday, they were in uniforms, they explained it was an art installation. Everything was very low-key,” said a spokesperson for the Russian pavilion. “Four years ago there were gay pride demonstrations here, so we are used to all sorts. They were supposed to come back today but they haven’t been yet.”

Tourists visiting the Russian pavilion had mixed responses, with some wondering whether they were witnessing a part of the planned exposition, and others taking part in the exercise, taking photos and discussing the Russian invasion with the organisers.