Israel artist refuses to open Israel pavilion at Venice Biennale
VENICE, Italy (AP) — The artist and curators representing Israel at this year’s Venice Biennale announced they won’t open the Israeli pavilion exhibition until there is a cease-fire in Gaza and an agreement to release hostages.
Their decision was posted on a sign on the Israeli national pavilion Tuesday, 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-Nov. 24. The exhibition in the Israeli Pavilion had been titled “Motherland” by artist Ruth Patir.
The sign read: “The artist and curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when a ceasefire and hostage release agreement is reached.”
There was no immediate comment from the Biennale organizers.
Already, 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. Italy’s culture minister had firmly backed Israel’s participation.
Related articles
DR MARTIN SCURR: How losing your hearing may cause dementia
Q: You said in a column last month that poor hearing is linked to dementia risk. Could you please ex2024-05-21Shanghai airports see surge in inbound foreign travelers in Q1
Shanghai's two airports witnessed over 1.18 million visits by inbound foreign travelers in the f2024-05-214 family members plead not guilty in abduction and abuse of a malnourished Iowa teen
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four members of a rural Iowa family have pleaded not guilty in the abduction2024-05-21Holly Willoughby 'to be protected by ex
Netflix is reportedly spending £1million on security for Holly Willoughby while she films her new sh2024-05-21A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
CLAIM: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin2024-05-21Lloyd Omdahl, a former North Dakota lieutenant governor and newspaper columnist, dies at 93
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Former North Dakota lieutenant governor and newspaper columnist Lloyd Omdah2024-05-21
atest comment