Bomb shelter map of Venice

The Ukrainian pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale amazed visitors with a provocative project: a map of Venice’s bomb shelters. In collaboration with the creative agency Bickerstaff.734, maps of Venice’s bomb shelters were distributed throughout the city, reminding visitors that even in peaceful Venice, war can be closer than it seems.

Maps and booklets posted throughout Venice juxtapose the picturesque canals and squares with markers indicating places to hide in case of bombing. This stark contrast serves as a powerful reminder that war is nearby and no one is immune to its reach.

For Ukrainians, bomb shelters have become not just a reality but a daily necessity. Knowing the location of the nearest shelter can truly save lives. Coincidentally, near the Ukrainian pavilion is Bunker II Guerilla Mondiale, a World War II bomb shelter. While Google Maps marks this bunker as «closed forever», the Ukrainian action prompts European visitors to reconsider how «forever» this status really is.

The bomb shelter map is part of the broader theme of the Ukrainian pavilion — «Weaving the Web», which explores the importance of unity and collective action in challenging times. Alongside the map, the exhibition showcases the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people through various art pieces:

— A documentary film by Danilo Revkovsky and Andrii Rachynsky about the civilian experience of the Russian invasion.

— A work by Katia Buchatska, created with neurodivergent artists, exploring the use of clichés during the war.

— A film by Andrii Dostliev and Lii Dostlieva, questioning stereotypes about Ukrainian refugees.