Prominent signatories of the open letter calling for the removal of the Israeli National Pavilion include 2023 Turner Prize winner Jesse Darling and American Museum of Palestine Director Faisal Saleh.
advertisementThousands of artists, curators, and critics venice biennale The Israeli National Pavilion will be excluded from this year’s contemporary art fair due to the Gaza War.
However, Italy’s Minister of Culture firmly supported Israel’s participation.
This online letter is supported by over 17,000 people, including current and past Biennale participants and Biennale winners. turner prizea prestigious annual award given to British visual artists.
Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano Expressing solidarity with Israel in a statement on Tuesday, it said Israel “not only has the right to artistic expression, but also an obligation to bear witness to its people at the very moment of violent attack by ruthless terrorists.” Ta.
The statement also stressed that any attempt to threaten “freedom of thought and creative expression in a democratic and free country like Italy” is shameful and unacceptable.
Is there a double standard in the Biennale’s response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
The open letter, written by a special group called the Art Not Genocide Alliance, states that the Biennale barred South Africa from participating due to its apartheid status from 1950 to 1968, and in response to the U.S. resolution to cease exchanges. He pointed out that a ban had been introduced. With a racist regime until apartheid ends.”
He also noted that the Biennale has supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. Russian artists have withdrawn their participation in 2022.
“The Biennale has been silent about Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinian people,” the letter said. “We are appalled by this double standard.”
Signatories include 2023 Turner Prize winner Jesse Darling, who participated in the 2019 Biennale, and Faisal Saleh, director of the American Museum of Palestine, who said his exhibition proposal was rejected.
Israel is one of 88 countries participating in the 60th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, which will be held from April 20th to November 24th.
The title of the exhibition at the Israel Pavilion is “Motherland” by artist Ruth Patia.
Palestinian artists are participating in accompanying events and will appear in the main show titled “Foreigners Everywhere,” curated by Adriano Pedrosa, artistic director of Brazil’s São Paulo Museum of Fine Arts.