8,000 artists sign online petition to remove Israel from Venice Biennale

Recently established advocacy group Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) has amassed an impressive 8,000 signatures from curators and artists on a petition calling for Israel to be excluded from the 60th Venice Biennale.  

"No Genocide Pavilion at the Venice Biennale" is the title of ANGA's open letter on the internet.  

The oldest of its type, the Venice Biennale has been held annually since 1895. The Biennale Foundation hosts a yearly international cultural exposition in Venice, Italy, with a primary focus on contemporary art.  

The petition claims that "any official representation of Israel on the international cultural stage is an endorsement of its policies and of the genocide in Gaza." "A state of apartheid and genocide is being promoted by the Biennale." 

Israel has been warned to stop any acts of genocide in Gaza by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The letter referred to decisions made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and stated, "Israel's months-long, and in fact, decades-long, assault on Gaza continues regardless, while its leaders proclaim they are above International Law and boldly advertise their genocidal intent." 

In the wake of the crisis with Russia in February 2022, the letter criticizes Cecilia Alemani, the curator of the 59th edition of the Biennale, as well as the Biennale for acting with double standards. 

In addition, the letter emphasizes how many Palestinians have died in Gaza, citing current estimates that point to as many as 250 deaths each day. 

It also highlights the fact that the apartheid South Africa was prohibited from taking part in the Biennale from 1968 to 1993, which coincided with the end of apartheid. Meanwhile, Israel has a dedicated pavilion in the Giardini, the park where the festival takes place. 

Palestine lacks a dedicated pavilion at the cultural exhibition, but its participation in this year’s chapter is highlighted through a project led by Palestinian activist Issa Amro and South African photographer Adam Broomberg, both signatories of the petition. 

“Art does not happen in a vacuum and cannot transcend reality,” the letter reads. 

“While Israel’s curatorial team plans their so-called ‘Fertility Pavilion’ reflecting on contemporary motherhood, Israel has murdered more than 12,000 children and destroyed access to reproductive care and medical facilities. As a result, Palestinian women have C-sections without anesthetic and give birth in the street.” 

The letter concludes that “any work” officially representing Israel is “an endorsement of its genocidal policies.”