Selection of artist who depicted terrorist under review

Tony Burke has expressed his “shock” after an artist, whose works include depictions of a terror leader and the September 11 attack was selected to represent Australia at one of the world’s biggest art exhibits.

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke, right, has expressed “shock” that artist, Khaled Sabsabiw ho has previously depicted a dead terrorist leader in his works, was selected to represent Australia at a world-famous art exhibit. Creative Australia last week announced

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke has expressed his “shock” after an artist, whose works include a notorious terrorist leader and a September 11-inspired video titled “Thank You”, was selected to represent Australia at a world-famous art exhibit.

Last week Creative Australia announced Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino would attend the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia – which takes place in Italy next year.

One of Mr Sabsabi’s prominent works is of Hassan Nasrallah, who led Lebanese terrorist organisation Hezbollah until his assassination in 2024.

According to a description from the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Nasrallah video artwork shows his “face with beams of light that shine from his eyes and mouth, suggestive of a divine illumination.”

It also repeats Nasrallah’s words from a “victory rally in Beirut, celebrating the end of a 34-day war with Israel that was fought in the south of Lebanon.”

Supplied images of Khaled Sabsabi's artwork “You, 2007”, depicting deceased Hezbollah terror leader Hassan Nasrallah. Picture: Supplied

“Thousands attended the rally … to hear Nasrallah claim victory on behalf of Hezbollah” the official description reads.

When approached for comment about the selection of Mr Sabsabi, Arts Minister Tony Burke told The Daily Telegraph “I was not involved in the decision. I was shocked to see some of the works which are online this afternoon.”

Creative Australia, which receives $254 million in taxpayers’ money each year, is now reviewing the decision, confirming its board had called a meeting to discuss the matter.

Concerns around Mr Sabsabi’s artworks, reported earlier today by The Australian, came to a head in Question Time on Thursday when Senator Claire Chandler asked: “with such appalling anti-Semitism 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…?”

Caught off guard, Foreign Minister Penny Wong conceded she “wasn’t aware of the facts as you outlined… until now” however agreed that “any glorification of the Hezbollah leader… is inappropriate.”

Ms Chandler also told parliament Mr Sabsabi had “previously produced artwork promoting Osama bin Laden and a series of 9/11 images of the aircraft hitting the Twin Towers, titled Thank You Very Much.”

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke expressed his “shock” at the selection by Creative Australia. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Announcing last week Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino would be attending the 61st International Art Exhibition – Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette said their works “reflect the diversity and plurality of Australia’s rich culture, and will spark meaningful conversations with audiences around the world.”

Mr Sabsabi received positive publicity from a range of media outlets after the announcement, who focused on his long, diverse career and journey to Australia from Lebanon in the late 1970s.

He was selected ahead of five other short-listed teams, including a number of First Nations entries.

At last year’s event Indigenous artist Archie Moore won the “Golden Lion for Best National Participation” for his exhibit at the Australia Pavilion.

Creative Australia, formerly known as the Australia Council, also recently announced an $800,000 investment in “Creative Climate” … a new consortium “dedicated to driving impactful change and embedding sustainable practices for creative industries.”

Senator Chandler told this masthead Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino should be “immediately removed from the taxpayer-funded trip to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale.”