Why the Israeli Pavilion at Venice Biennale Should Be Supported, Not Boycotted
Fiammetta Martegani opposes the idea of boycotting the Israeli Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, emphasizing the intricate nature of Israeli society. She references artist Maria Saleh Mahameed, whose work 'Ludmilla' contributes to a project that celebrates Israel's diversity. Martegani critiques a petition from November 2023, signed by over 4,000 Italian academics, urging a boycott of Israeli scholars, while highlighting the global influence of Israeli academia. She argues that such boycotts silence dissenting voices, including those of artists who are critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Martegani also mentions the acclaimed documentary 'No Other Land' and Ilit Azoulay's 2022 Biennale piece 'Queendom.' She notes that exhibitions have been canceled since October 7 and advocates for collaboration between Israeli artist Ruth Patir and a Palestinian artist, promoting support for coexistence instead of boycotts.
Key facts
- Maria Saleh Mahameed is an Arab Israeli artist with a Palestinian father and Ukrainian mother.
- Her exhibition 'Ludmilla' is at Castello Svevo in Trani, part of a three-city project.
- Over 4,000 Italian academics signed a petition to boycott Israeli colleagues in November 2023.
- The documentary 'No Other Land' by Israeli and Palestinian directors won an award at the Berlin Film Festival.
- Ilit Azoulay's 2022 Biennale installation 'Queendom' used works from the Islamic Museum of Jerusalem.
- Since October 7, hundreds of exhibitions by Jewish, Muslim, and Christian artists have been canceled worldwide.
- Hannan Abu-Hussein won the Rappaport Prize in 2023 as best veteran Israeli artist.
- Martegani proposes pairing Israeli artist Ruth Patir with a Palestinian artist at the Biennale.
- Martegani's son Enrico attends a mixed school with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian children.
- The article was published on Artribune in February 2024.
Entities
Artists
- Maria Saleh Mahameed
- Ilit Azoulay
- Ruth Patir
- Hannan Abu-Hussein
- Yuval Abraham
- Basel Adra
- Hamdan Ballal
- Rachel Szor
- Fiammetta Martegani
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Mira Lapidot
- Tamar Margalit
Institutions
- Castello Svevo di Trani
- Biennale di Venezia
- Museo Islamico di Gerusalemme
- Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
- Kibutzim College of Education
- Università di Tel Aviv
- Museo Eretz Israel
- Festival di Berlino
- Lucca Comics
- Artribune
Locations
- Israele
- Trani
- Lecce
- Polignano
- Venezia
- Tel Aviv
- Gerusalemme
- Berlino
- Italia
- Ucraina
- Russia