Tel Aviv gallery exhibits Arab artists' work without consent in provocative 'Stolen Arab Art' show
The 1:1 Center for Art and Politics in Tel Aviv has launched its inaugural exhibition titled 'Stolen Arab Art' by displaying video works by contemporary Arab artists without their permission. Gallery artistic director Omer Krieger deliberately omitted attribution, acknowledging that artists like Wael Shawky and Walid Raad would not consent to showing their work in Israel due to cultural boycotts. In a statement, the gallery framed this act as highlighting Israel's exclusion from regional cultural dialogues. Shawky condemned the gallery's approach as theft and confirmed his opposition to exhibitions in Israel, while exploring potential legal recourse. The exhibition includes four uncredited video pieces, with the gallery's actions reported by Middle East Eye and covered by ArtReview on July 16, 2018.
Key facts
- 1:1 Center for Art and Politics is a new gallery in Tel Aviv
- The inaugural exhibition is titled 'Stolen Arab Art'
- Works by contemporary Arab artists are shown without consent
- Four video works are included without attribution
- Artists Wael Shawky and Walid Raad are among those featured
- Artistic director Omer Krieger intentionally omitted artist names
- Shawky called the gallery's actions theft and is considering legal action
- The gallery claims the exhibition addresses Israel's exclusion from Middle East cultural networks
Entities
Artists
- Wael Shawky
- Walid Raad
- Omer Krieger
Institutions
- 1:1 Center for Art and Politics
- Middle East Eye
- ArtReview
Locations
- Tel Aviv
- Israel