Artists and curators representing Israel at the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale, which begins April 20, have announced that the Israeli pavilion will remain closed until an agreement is reached on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and on the release of Israeli people held hostage by Hamas. The announcement was made with a sign that was attached to the entrance of the pavilion. Ruth Patir, one of the curators of the Israeli pavilion, told the Guardian that the decision represents "a choice of solidarity with the families of the hostages and with the greater community of Israel that is demanding change". Patir also explained that she is opposed to the forms of cultural boycotts being undertaken against Israel, but that at the same time she feels a "considerable difficulty" in presenting the Israeli project at the Biennale because it "speaks of the vulnerability of life at a time of incredible contempt for it". "Art can wait, women, children and people living hell cannot," said Mira Lapidot and Tamar Margalit, two other curators of the Israeli pavilion.
|