Israeli artist and curators decline to show work at Venice Biennale, call for ceasefire
CBC
The artist and curators representing Israel at this year's Venice Biennale announced Tuesday they won't open the Israeli pavilion exhibition until there is a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement to release hostages.
Their decision was posted on a sign in the window of the Israeli national pavilion on the first day of media previews, just days before the Biennale contemporary art fair opens Saturday.
Israel is among 88 national participants in the 60th Venice Biennale, which runs from April 20 to Nov. 24. The exhibition in the Israeli national pavilion was Motherland by artist Ruth Patir.
There was no immediate comment from Biennale organizers.
Even before the preview, thousands of artists, curators and critics had signed an open letter calling on the Biennale to exclude the Israeli national pavilion from this year's show to protest Israel's war in Gaza. Those opposed to Israel's presence had also vowed to protest onsite.
Italy's culture minister had firmly backed Israel's participation, and the fair was opening amid unusually heightened security.
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Written in English, the announcement Tuesday of Israel's delayed opening read: "The artist and curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when a ceasefire and hostage release agreement is reached." Two Italian soldiers stood guard nearby.
"I feel that the time for art is lost," Ruth Patir wrote in a statement on Instagram, explaining why she and the exhibits' two curators had decided to shutter the show.
"And so if I am given such a remarkable stage, I want to make it count," she said.
The Israeli government believes there are about 130 hostages remaining in Gaza since Oct. 7, when militant group Hamas led a deadly attack in southern Israel.
Patir, whose work for Venice includes video of ancient fertility statues as a commentary on women's roles, was chosen last year to represent Israel by a panel of arts professionals appointed by the Israeli culture ministry.
Israel's exhibit was partially funded by the Israeli government. It made no immediate comment on Patir's decision to shutter the show.
Adriano Pedrosa, the Brazilian curator of the main show at the Biennale, praised the gesture.
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