Israel will not have representation at the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale. The Israeli artist chosen as representative of the Jewish state, Ruth Patir, assured that she will not inaugurate her show in the national pavilion until Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire and the hostages are released.
“The artist and the curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when an agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release is reached. The decision of the artist and the curators is not to cancel the exhibition themselves; rather they choose to adopt a stance of solidarity with the families of the hostages and the broad community of Israel that demands change,” reads Patir’s message on his website. It is the same one that is pasted on the door of the pavilion to show the ‘Motherland’ installation.
“I hate it,” the artist said about her decision not to open the exhibition she has been working on, but she believes that “it is important” to be firm in her position, the American newspaper quotes. Although the Biennial is a great opportunity for As a young artist like her, the situation in Gaza was “much bigger than me” and she felt she had to close the pavilion as a sign of protest. In the past, Patir had already called for an end to the attacks in the Palestinian strip.
Patir’s work includes videos of ancient fertility statues as a commentary on the role of women. She was chosen last year to represent Israel by a jury of arts professionals appointed by the Israeli Ministry of Culture. The Israel exhibition was partially funded by the Israeli Government. He had no immediate comment on Patir’s decision to close the show.
Patir posted that he opposed cultural boycotts, but said: “I prefer to raise my voice alongside those who shout: stop the fire now, bring the people back from their captivity. We can’t take it anymore.”
Last February, an initiative promoted by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) collective, with the support of more than 8,500 artists and curators, demanded that the Biennial veto Israel. “Any work that officially represents the State of Israel is an endorsement of its genocidal policies,” the open letter stressed. “Art depicting a state engaged in continued atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza is unacceptable.” she remarked. The organizers rejected the proposal.
The Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, described the request as “unacceptable, as well as shameful” and the organizers rejected any type of boycott and confirmed the presence of the Israeli pavilion. “Israel not only has the right to express its art, but it has the duty to bear witness to its people precisely at a time like this when it has been severely beaten by ruthless terrorists. My deepest solidarity and closeness to the State of Israel , to its artists and to all its citizens,” Sangiuliano said then.
The Venice International Art Exhibition runs from Saturday, April 20 to Sunday, November 24 under the title “Foreigners Anywhere.” It is curated by Brazilian Adriano Pedrosa and will feature the participation of 88 national pavilions and hundreds of artists from around the world. For now, Israel will not open its doors.
Israel has faced growing criticism for its military offensive in the Palestinian enclave, triggered by an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed about 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, according to an Israeli count. Some hostages were freed in a truce in November, but more than 130 remain missing and efforts to secure a new ceasefire agreement have failed. More than 33,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israel in the war, according to Gaza doctors.
