"The latest country to announce its artist for Venice is Pakistan, which will be represented by Lahore-born, London-based artist Faiza Butt. Her exhibition will explore the region of Punjab, including the cultural legacy of its split between India and Pakistan."
"As always, some national pavilion announcements have stirred controversy. An online petition has been launched by artists and cultural workers seeking to have painter Predrag Đaković removed as representative of Serbia, on the basis that he does not represent "the quality of contemporary artistic production" in the country. The artist-run activist group Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) is calling on the Biennale to exclude Israel from this year's event until it is "brought to justice for its crimes." The group warned that if Israel is not removed it will mobilize "a full artist and audience boycott.""
"At the start of this year, South Africa abruptly dropped its artist Gabrielle Goliath over her "highly divisive" exhibition that would commemorate Palestinian women and children killed at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces since October 2023. The decision has been condemned by the artist selection committee, who said they "reject all forms of censorship and intimidation that seek to curtail critical artistic practice or undermine the autonomy of cultural production." The status of South Africa's participation in the Biennale remains unclear."
The 61st Venice Biennale opens in May with national pavilion selections that include notable appointments and controversies. Pakistan will be represented by Lahore-born, London-based artist Faiza Butt, whose exhibition will examine Punjab and the cultural legacy of its partition. An online petition seeks removal of Serbias representative Predrag Đakovi07 for failing to reflect contemporary artistic quality. Activist group Art Not Genocide Alliance demands Israels exclusion until it is brought to justice and threatens a broad boycott if Israel remains. South Africa dropped Gabrielle Goliath over a "highly divisive" Gaza-themed exhibition; Australia reinstated Khaled Sabsabi after political backlash.
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