Major gallery says Venice row endangers Australia’s global reputation

The leadership of Creative Australia appears increasingly isolated as the Museum of Contemporary Art became the first major arts institution to weigh into the row over Australia’s representative to the Venice Biennale.

MCA Australia holds three works by Khaled Sabsabi, who was sensationally dropped by the Creative Australia board one week ago following Coalition questions in federal parliament about historic works.

MCA director Suzanne Cotter. Credit: Janie Barrett

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia said it was concerned by the lack of transparency in Creative Australia’s process, which resulted in the agency withdrawing its invitation to the creative team of Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino.

“This withdrawal has major ramifications for the arts in Australia and the reputation of Australia in the world at a time when creating space for diverse artist voices and ideas has never been more important,” the statement said.

Sabsabi’s You was created 18 years ago in 2007. It was the subject of Coalition questions in parliament and triggered Creative Australia’s abrupt about-face to sack Sabsabi as its representative the day the questions were asked.

It has been in the MCA’s collection since 2009. The video installation features images of slain former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation.

“There is no statement by the artist to suggest it is a glorification of terrorism,” director Suzanne Cotter said.

“It is a work that draws upon the artist’s lived experience and addresses the power of the image over words and the ways in which visual media in service of ideology are part of everyday lives.

“Works of art are an expression of the times in which they were made. The heightened cultural tensions of the present should not determine the validity of a work of art created at another moment.”

More than 3000 people including artists and patrons have signed their names to an open letter that alleges censorship and calls for Creative Australia to reinstall the dumped team.

Australia’s international ambassador to Venice, Simon Mordant, has resigned, as has the program director and manager of the agency’s visual arts team and board member, Lindy Lee.

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke has denied he directed the board. Creative Australia’s chief executive Adrian Collett has held two all-staff meetings, the last yesterday, to settle internal tensions and rule out a change of heart.

The Art Gallery of NSW confirmed its collection included two works by Khaled Sabsabi: Organised confusion 2014 and Guerrilla 2007-2016.

“These works are part of the Art Gallery’s diverse collection that tells stories of human encounter, cultural exchange and offers insights into the individual creative mind.

“The Art Gallery is aware of Creative Australia’s decision not to proceed with artist Khaled Sabsabi as the Australian representative for the Venice Biennale in 2026 and is not in a position to offer further comment.”

Former MCA director Liz Anne Macgregor has criticised the silence of arts institutions in the wake of the controversy, contrasting it with the public positions taken when the federal Coalition set up the Catalyst fund, designed by former arts minister George Brandis in 2015, to give the arts ministry direct control over public funding of arts projects.

It prompted protests, and led many in the arts community to accuse the government of political interference. Labor labelled the program “a slush fund”.

Thanks to “bureaucratic ineptitude and political pandering to confected media outrage, we will not have the opportunity to make up our own minds through experiencing this work for ourselves in the splendid setting of the pavilion in Venice,” Macgregor said.