HUNDREDS PROTEST OUTSIDE ISRAELI PAVILION AT VENICE BIENNALE

Hundreds Protest Outside Israeli Pavilion at Venice Biennale

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the prestigious art event accused Israel of genocide, while activists hung 40 works by Palestinian artists around the city

April 19th, 03AM April 19th, 03AM

A pro-Palestinian demonstration drew hundreds during the opening of the Venice Biennale on Wednesday.

The participants in the protest at the site of the Biennale all had tickets for early entry to the renowned art event. Such tickets are given only to artists, curators, and others working in the arts, as well as journalists.

The demonstration began outside Israel's pavilion and the nearby American Pavilion. The protesters then marched toward the British and German pavilions, chanting "Free Palestine," calling for an intifada, and accusing Israel of being a terrorist state. They also demanded that Israel's pavilion be shut down, although it hasn't actually opened its doors.

Artist Ruth Patir and curators Mira Lapidot and Tamar Margalit announced they would not open it to the general public, even though all the works have been installed. Instead, they hung a sign saying the pavilion would only be opened once there is a cease-fire in the war in Gaza and the Israeli hostages return home.

On the Instagram page of the Art Not Genocide Alliance, demonstrators and organizers argued that the booth's de facto closure is insufficient and that Patir shouldn't have a place at the Biennale at all. The organization advocates boycotting Israel in general and opposes Israel's presence at the Biennale in particular.

Protesters carried signs with pictures of naked detainees in the Gaza Strip and children suffering from malnutrition. Their chants also targeted countries that support Israel, including Germany and the United States.

Numerous artists made statements against the continued presence of the Israeli Pavilion. Italian curator Sara Alberani wrote on Instagram, "In front of the Genocide Pavilion, we say no to the presence of a genocidal apartheid state on the world cultural stage of the Biennale. We said no to genocide complicit states U.S.A., U.K., Germany, and France. We call to boycott the German Pavilion. We call for a total boycott of the Genocide Pavilion and demand to shut it down immediately."

The organization also published a leaflet that told the Palestinian and Gazan story from the Palestinian perspective and explained its objections to Israel's presence at the Biennale.

"Platforming art representing a state engaged in ongoing atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza is unacceptable," the leaflet read. "The world's highest court, the International Court of Justice, has affirmed that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza ... Israel's months- and in fact many-decades-long assault on Gaza continues regardless, while its leaders proclaim they are above international law and boldly advertise their genocidal intent.

"Israel has murdered more than 12,000 children and destroyed access to reproductive care and medical facilities," it added. "As a result, Palestinian women have C-sections without anesthetic and give birth in the street.

"There is no free expression for the Palestinian poets, artists, and writers murdered, silenced, imprisoned, tortured, and prevented from travelling abroad or internally by Israel," the leaflet continued. It then charged that the Biennale was complicit in the crime of genocide by remaining silent about Israel's actions even though its attack on Gaza was "one of the most intense bombardments in history."

The leaflet also contained a list of countries that cooperate with Israel. It included Australia, Austria, Hungary, The Netherlands, France, Britain, Italy, Egypt, and the United States.

Pro-Palestinian activists also engaged in other activities throughout Venice. A manifesto titled "The Palestinian Pavilion – What is the Future of Art?" was hung in form of posters around the city. In addition, the protest organization organized a street exhibit, "Palestinian Art in the Streets," that featured reproductions of 40 works by 13 Palestinian artists.

Among these artists was Bayan Abu Nahla, who mainly works in watercolor and ink. One of her paintings depicted Palestinian men watching a funeral, the coffin draped in a Palestinian flag. Another artist, Maram Ali, showed a new work, titled "Will He Give up His Land?" It shows a Palestinian boy flying through the sky on a kite shaped like the Palestinian flag.

Though the Israeli Pavilion isn't officially open to the public, its ground floor is transparent. Consequently, people can stand outside and watch one of Patir's video works or look at archaeological photos make up part of the exhibit, called "M/otherLand."

2024-04-19T00:39:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd