Fiona Banner's Decommissioned Warplanes and the Political Limits of Art Institutions

In 2010, Fiona Banner's installation 'Harrier and Jaguar' was showcased at Tate Britain, featuring a Sea Harrier and a Sepecat Jaguar, both retired RAF aircraft that were subsequently melted down into ingots. This piece has sparked discussions about the role of art institutions in political discourse, especially following the recent cancellations of exhibitions by artists such as Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck, Samia Halaby, and Candice Breitz, who expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments. In November 2023, Arnolfini in Bristol retracted a Palestinian film event, later issuing an apology. Additionally, Indiana University and The Saarland Museum also canceled their shows. The Zabludowicz collection in London closed amid accusations regarding funding for Israeli military equipment. Masha Gessen had the Hannah Arendt prize rescinded for their commentary on German guilt. Banner's work critiques the depoliticization of artifacts by galleries.