Scotland and Wales are jumping ship at the Vennice Biennale this year – both countries are pulling out of the British pavilion to set up their own shows. “As if to underline their secessionist tendencies, the Welsh have bagged a bigger venue – the Ex-Birreria brewery on Giudecca – and they are throwing a party for the art glitterati while sobriety will be observed in the British pavilion. The Welsh deny that they harbour historical resentments, but do point out that the British council has not honoured a Welsh artist at the biennale for 40 years.”