‘Art should not be censored': Khaled Sabsabi responds to cancellation of Venice Biennale project
Award-winning Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi, and curator Michael Dagostino were announced last week as the successful team for the 2026 Biennale on the advice of a panel of independent industry advisors.
Following a late night board meeting on Thursday, Creative Australia took the unprecedented step to dump the team following criticism of Sabsabi's art by The Australian and the shadow arts minister, Claire Chandler.
'Art should not be censored as artists reflect the times they live in,' Sabsabi and Dagostino said in a statement to Guardian Australia.
'We intended to present a transformational work in Venice, an experience that would unite all audiences in an open and safe shared space. This reflects and builds on the work we have done for decades and will do for many more.
'We believe in the vision of artists for an inclusive future that can bring us together to communicate and progress our shared humanity. We also believe that, despite this decision, the Australian art world will not dim and or be silent.
'The artistic team is still committed to presenting this work on a global platform and will seek community support to make this happen.'
In a letter addressed to the board of Creative Australia, the other artists and curators shortlisted for the Australian pavilion condemned the decision, and called for Sabsabi and Dagostino to be reinstated.
'We believe that revoking support for the current Australian artist and curator representatives for Venice Biennale 2026 is antithetical to the goodwill and hard-fought artistic independence, freedom of speech and moral courage that is at the core of arts in Australia, which plays a crucial role in our thriving and democratic nation,' they wrote.
On Wednesday, the Australian published an article criticising Sabsabi for what it described as 'questionable and ambiguous' depiction of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a 2007 video installation titled You.
On the Museum of Contemporary Art website, the work is described as 'purposefully ambiguous … [Sabsabi has] manipulated the video footage, obscuring Nasrullah's face with beams of light that shine from his eyes and mouth, suggestive of a divine illumination.
'[The work] plays on western fears of cultural difference … and also suggests the all-pervasiveness of the public news media, and its ability to deify or vilify, and to generate suspicion or panic through the intensive repetition of imagery on our television screens, day in and day out.'
The article in the Australian also took issue with Sabsabi for joining a boycott of the 2022 Sydney Festival over a sponsorship deal with the Israeli embassy.
Creative Australia's 'unanimous' decision not to proceed with Sabsabi and Dagostino also followed criticism by Liberal Senator Claire Chandler in Senate question time.
'With such appalling antisemitism in our country, why is the Albanese government allowing the person who highlights a terrorist leader in his artwork to represent Australia on the international stage?' she said in Parliament on Thursday.
The arts minister, Tony Burke, also said he was 'shocked to see some of the works which are online this afternoon' while adding he 'was not involved in the decision' to select Sabsabi as Australia's representative.
Creative Australia said it took the decision to revoke the appointment to avoid a 'divisive debate', however the move has sparked outrage within the arts scene.
'Creative Australia is an advocate for freedom of artistic expression and is not an adjudicator on the interpretation of art,' the statement said.
Creative Australia said it will now review the selection process for the Venice Biennale 2026.
The shock move garnered swift condemnation online, and has been criticised by artists and curators who had been shortlisted for the Venice biennale, including First Nations artist Tony Albert.
'As a long time advocate and supporter of Khaled's artistic practice I woke up today totally shocked and in disbelief about this decision,' Albert said.
'It saddens me in the current political climate to see his artistic bravery and ambition being censored.
'Khaled's voice is one of positive empowerment, it is poetic and signals for peace. His representation was a poignant reminder of how artist voices can lead difficult conversations.'
Hayley Millar Baker, who was shortlisted alongside curator Erin Vink, told Guardian Australia 'we stand in solidarity with Khaled'.
Artist James Nguyen, who was shortlisted alongside curator Anna Davis, said 'we would like to see the final decision by the industry-led jury respected'.
Meanwhile three-time Archibald finalist and Sulman prize winner, Jason Phu, said the move has 'set a precedent for censoring artists making work that doesn't fit a government's agenda'.
'Until he is reinstated, this is the last artist that has represented Australia at the Venice Biennale, a boycott on the pavilion forever,' Phu said on Instagram.
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