Thousands of people, including many artists, are calling for Israel to be excluded from this year’s Venice Art Biennale. An open letter was posted online for this purpose. Italy’s government rejected the appeal.
The list of activists against Israel’s participation in the 2024 Biennale is getting longer and longer. There are now more than 18,000 signatures. The signatories are following a call from the “ANGA” initiative – Art not Genocide Alliance. This initiative was founded specifically for the Venice Art Biennale. She wants to ensure that Israel is excluded this year.
The letter states: “As the art world prepares for the nation-state diorama at the Giardini, we say that it is unacceptable to present art from a state that is currently carrying out atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Italian Minister of Culture distances himself
Any work that represents the State of Israel is an endorsement of its genocidal policies. Some artists who are among the signatories and whom the ARD Studio Rome asked for a statement have not yet commented on it. The reaction of the Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano is all the clearer:
Culture should bring people and nations closer together. Culture is the instrument that, even in times of crisis, must build bridges of dialogue between positions that may seem incompatible in politics. That’s why we are determined to return this request to the sender.
Biennale cannot prompts take into account
Another appeal also calls for Iran to be excluded from the Biennale. The organization Women Life Freedom Europe and its Italian branch point out the regime’s ongoing violence against women, young and non-aligned artists and demand a strong and clear signal to the international community.
Those responsible for the art exhibition have now reacted. In a written statement, the Biennale di Venezia pointed out that all countries recognized by the Italian Republic could independently apply for official participation.
Consequently, the Biennale cannot consider any petition or request that seeks to exclude Israel or Iran from the upcoming 60th International Art Exhibition. Comparisons with Russia because of the war in Ukraine are rejected; these were drawn by the ANGA initiative.
People in front of the main pavilion of the Biennale in the Giardini in Venice.
Russia closes pavilion itself
Russian artists will not be represented at the upcoming 60th Biennale. The reason for this is that those responsible, appointed by the Russian Minister of Culture, are keeping the Russian pavilion closed. This was already the case at the 59th international art exhibition in 2022. Biennale representatives emphasized this after Russia was cited as an example of exclusion from the art exhibition.
For the Italian government, Israel’s participation is out of the question, said Culture Minister Sangiuliano. Israel has the right to have its pavilion at the Biennale. And no comparisons can be made, for example with South Africa, because at that time South Africa was, so to speak, banned from the entire international community from all forums. Israel is a democracy.
Also Palestinian Artists included
The Venice Biennale notes that Palestinian artists will also be represented at the 60th edition of the art exhibition.
The Venice Art Biennale will take place from April 20th to November 24th and is the oldest international exhibition of contemporary art.
Elisabeth Pongratz, ARD Rome, tagesschau, February 29, 2024 9:23 a.m