Renowned Greek painter and multimedia artist Miltos Manetas will hand out 222 painted portraits of Julian Assange, in addition to NFTs, at the International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale between April 19th and April 25th. The action is supported by the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25).

The project, titled “AIIA: Assange is Internet Internet is Assange”, is the centrepiece of the 7th edition of the Internet Pavilion, which was created by Manetas together with curator Jan Aman and saw its first edition at the 2009 Venice Biennale.

The 222 paintings match the number of days of the Biennale, which opens on April 23rd and closes on November 27th. Manetas will be handing out the artworks free of charge at the Navy Officer’s Club between 12:00 and 18:00. Special NFTs will also be distributed by the artist.

Miltos Manetas said: “I dedicate this 7th Internet Pavilion to Julian Assange, because thanks to NFTs he cannot be erased or silenced – the blockchain exists and everything that happens can be recorded there. Destroying his body doesn’t destroy his spirit or our spirit. We are free to join the Venice Biennale during these 222 days, but Assange will be imprisoned.”

Alongside DiEM25, the 7th Internet Pavilion has been made possible thanks to Lightbox, Galleria Valentina Bonomo, HYPERURANIUM.io and the support of Gran (Media) Tour.

Lucas Febraro, DiEM25 Communications Coordinator,  is available for interviews. 

Pictures available for download here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iV_gXwbRKpWarpksjJJOicktecJwYRfO?usp=sharing

For further information and interview requests please contact:

Nadia Sales Grade

>> DiEM25 Press and media relations – European coordination

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