An artist representing Israel at the international art fair calls for an immediate ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza.
The artist representing Israel at the Venice Biennale has announced that her exhibition will not open until an agreement is reached for a ceasefire and the release of captives in the Gaza Strip.
Ruth Patir's video installation called (M)otherland was due to open Saturday in Israel's national pavilion at the international art exhibition, but she said it would remain closed for now.
“The artist and curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when a ceasefire agreement and hostage release is reached,” said a sign posted Tuesday in the window of the Israel pavilion.
Patir said on his website: “The decision of the artist and the curators is not to cancel themselves or the exhibition; rather, they choose to adopt a stance of solidarity with the families of the hostages and the greater community of Israel that calls for change.”
The biennale, scheduled from Saturday to November 24 in the northern Italian city of Venice, is considered one of the most important presentations of contemporary art in the world. Before its inauguration, representatives of the media were able to see the country pavilions on Tuesday.
“If they give me such an extraordinary stage, I want it to be worth it,” Patir said on Instagram. “I feel that the time of art is lost and I need to believe that it will return.”
“I am an artist and educator, I am firmly opposed to the cultural boycott,” she continued. “But since I feel there is no right answer[s]and I can only do what I can with the space I have, I prefer to raise my voice with those I am with in their cry: cease fire now, let's get the people out of captivity.”
Israel estimates that 129 captives captured during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, including 34 people presumed dead, remain in Gaza.
Following the attacks, Israel launched a war against Gaza that has killed at least 33,843 people and injured 76,575, according to Palestinian authorities.
The Israeli attack has displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million people and reduced much of the territory to rubble. Aid agencies have warned of imminent famine in parts of the territory as Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on the supply of humanitarian aid.
Thousands of artists, curators and critics signed an open letter opposing Israel's participation in the event to protest the war in Gaza. Those who oppose Israel's presence also said they plan to protest at the biennale.
The Art Not Genocide Alliance, an international group of artists and cultural workers calling for the exclusion of Israel from the Venice Biennale, said it was “unacceptable” to present art from a state that carries out atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.
Italy's Culture Minister endorsed the participation of Israel, one of the 88 nations that will participate in the 60th edition of the art fair. It opened to the media amid unusually high security as Italian soldiers stood guard outside the Israeli pavilion.
International politics is no stranger to the biennial. Russian artists withdrew their participation in 2022 to protest the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, and the biennale said Russia did not apply to participate in this year's edition.
The festival also discouraged and later banned South African participation during apartheid.
