2023 Art World Confronts Political Schisms and Regional Shifts Amid Global Conflicts

The year 2023 saw the art sector become entwined with political issues stemming from the Gaza conflicts. Allegations of antisemitism emerged against Documenta, and the Saarland Museum in Germany canceled an exhibition by Candice Breitz due to her remarks about Gaza. The cancellation of the Biennale für aktuelle Fotografie followed the removal of curator Shahidul Alam. Artforum's editor, David Velasco, was dismissed after he published a letter advocating for a ceasefire, which led to over 500 critics initiating a boycott of Penske publications. In the Gulf region, there were boycotts of Western goods. The Jeddah Islamic Art Biennale, under the curation of Sumayya Vally, redefined Islamic art, while the Sharjah Biennial showcased over 150 artists, and the Dhaka Art Summit addressed climate issues. Group exhibitions critiqued Western ideologies, and Jaakko Pallasvuo examined political careerism.