Tag: Venice Biennale
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Gayton McKenzie halts SA Venice Biennale entry over Gaza genocide
Introduction South Africa’s art world woke to a political pivot this week as Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie announced the cancellation of the country’s submission to the Venice Biennale. He said the planned presentation, which referenced or alluded to the Gaza genocide, was incompatible with his interpretation of national interests and freedom of expression.…
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Gayton McKenzie halts SA Venice Biennale over Gaza reference
South Africa’s Venice bid pulled amid free-speech controversy In a dramatic escalation of tensions between artistic expression and political policy, South Africa’s submission to the Venice Biennale has been halted. Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed the decision, saying the planned artwork and its accompanying messaging referenced the Gaza genocide in a way he…
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Gayton McKenzie’s Venice Biennale Move Sparks Debate Over Free Expression in SA
Controversy erupts as SA withdraws Venice Biennale submission The South African arts scene is facing a high-stakes clash between freedom of expression and political policy after Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pulled the plug on the country’s entry to the Venice Biennale. The minister’s decision, described by supporters as a stand for national values…
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Koyo Kouoh’s Final Lesson on Pan-African Solidarity
Introduction: Healing Through Art Across Africa In Nairobi last spring, a group of 30 African artists from diverse disciplines gathered to confront a difficult but essential task: collective healing in the face of trauma, war, and genocide. Titled “The Power of Arts and Culture for Healing,” the convening was curated by Molemo Moiloa and Phumzile…
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Shattered Years: Israel’s Culture in War and Creativity
Shattered Years, Resilient Arts: How Israel’s Culture Scene Keeps Creating Two years into a conflict that has reshaped daily life, Israel’s culture scene remains not only intact but surprisingly dynamic. The phrase Shattered Years captures more than the duration of hardship; it speaks to a culture that refuses to be silenced, finding new channels of…
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The Two Broken Years: Why Israel’s Culture Refuses to Surrender
The two years in war: culture as shelter and signal Two years after the war began, the cultural landscape in Israel keeps vibrating with life. It feels at times like we have eaten a little too much art that responds to conflict, yet the act of creation continues to push through the noise. The arts…