The Israeli pavilion in the 60th Venice Art Biennale (Italy) It will remain closed out of “solidarity” until the release of the hostages held by Hamas and the achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza, the exhibiting artist and curators announced yesterday.
The artist and the curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when a ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages are reached,” reads the exhibition site at the prestigious art biennial, which opens to the public next Saturday.
The decision of the artist and the curators does not tend to be that they themselves censor the exhibition; They choose better to adopt a position of solidarity with the families of the hostages and the large Israeli community that calls for change,” they explain.
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Called (M)otherland (play on words between homeland and another land), the exhibition highlights the work of filmmaker Ruth Patir regarding her relationship with her country of origin through a video installation. “We become news and not art,” said the creator on Instagram.
I oppose the cultural boycott; But, since there is no good answer and I cannot do what I want with the space I have, I prefer to join my voice with those who shout this cry: ‘Cease-the-fire immediately, bring the hostages, we can’t take it anymore ‘” he added.
The general curator of the Biennial, Adriano Pedrosa, said that he “respects” that decision. “I don’t know them personally, but I think he is very brave and also very wise,” he declared.
In February, the organizers had confirmed Israel’s participation, despite a call for a boycott by thousands of artists, architects and curators, described as “shameful” by the Italian Minister of Culture.
The conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, after the attack by the Palestinian Islamist group in Israel, which left 1,170 dead; They also took 250 hostages, of which 129 remain in Gaza. Israel launched an offensive that has already left 33,843 dead in Gaza.
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