Iranian Artist Accuses Swedish Venue of Censorship Over Canceled Show

Sadaf Ahmadi, an Iranian artist who moved to Sweden in 2020, accused Borås Kulturhuset of censorship after they canceled her exhibition called Concrete. This show was meant to feature a striking sculpture of ten veiled heads made from concrete, along with portraits of women who were killed by Iranian security forces. Visitors would have had to break through concrete barriers to see the portraits. Kulturhuset cited increased security concerns due to Quran burnings and Muslim protests as their reason for canceling. Ahmadi expressed her shock, saying it reminded her of her time in Iran. The exhibition had previously run smoothly in France. After her outcry, Kulturhuset suggested a smaller venue.