Controversial far-right blogger Curtis Yarvin proposed the 'Dissident-Right Art Hos' exhibit for the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

The application process for the United States pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale has commenced, with a noticeable change in approach compared to previous years. The new application emphasises a non-political character and representation of American diplomacy, a stark contrast to the usual focus on artistic expression.

Amidst this shift, a proposal for the US pavilion has been informally floated, originating from Curtis Yarvin, a far-right blogger known for his monarchist and technocratic ideas. Yarvin, who has been linked to the "Dark Enlightenment" movement and has connections to figures like Peter Thiel in the Silicon Valley ideological sphere, has proposed a plan to hijack the exhibition space as part of a far-right stunt.

This proposal is seen as a provocative attempt to inject Yarvin's monarchist and reactionary ideas into the art world, aiming to disrupt and challenge the traditional art establishment at the Biennale. However, no detailed formal plan for the pavilion's programming or artistic content beyond this disruptive intent has been publicly outlined.

Kathleen Ash-Milby, a cocurator of Jeffrey Gibson's US Pavilion at the 2024 Biennale, has expressed concern that the situation might be past the point of no return. The time frame for producing the pavilion is unusually short, with less than a year remaining, and the deadline for applications is July 30, 2023.

The language used in the new application is strikingly different, and it does not mention any specific individual or group associated with the "dissident-right art hos" pitch. The application process for the 2026 US pavilion includes a requirement for programs to maintain a non-political character.

In the meantime, many countries have revealed their pavilion plans for the 2026 Venice Biennale, except for the United States. The application portal for the US pavilion was opened later than in the past, adding to the speculation surrounding the US representation at the event.

Curtis Yarvin made his pitch to Darren Beattie, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, in April. Yarvin's proposal has garnered attention due to his association with the term "dissident right," which refers to a crowd that is avowedly anti-woke and is based in several locations across the nation, including Dimes Square.

The term "Dimes Square" has been used to describe a small area in New York's Chinatown neighbourhood and a sensibility. It has been associated with a certain attitude: boredom with performative outrage and disdain for overbearingly earnest didacticism.

The winner of a $375,000 grant from the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs will be notified by September 1. As the deadline for applications approaches, the anticipation for the US pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale continues to build, with many questioning whether Yarvin's proposal will be selected and how it will impact the art world if it is.

[1] https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/04/24/curtis-yarvin-the-dark-enlightenment-00044922 [2] https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/02/the-dissident-right-art-hos-of-dimes-square [3] https://spikeartmagazine.com/article/dimes-square-is-the-new-bohemia/ [4] https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj855b/the-dark-enlightenment-the-silicon-valley-ideology-that-threatens-democracy

Controversial far-right blogger Curtis Yarvin proposed the 'Dissident-Right Art Hos' exhibit for the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.