September 11 ‘thank you’ artwork forced award backflip

A Sydney artist was withdrawn as Australia’s selection for a global exhibition after the discovery of his work titled “Thank You Very Much”, featuring confronting images of the September 11 terror attack.

The nation’s taxpayer-funded art council was forced to backflip on their selection for the Venice Biennale after discovering the winning artist had featured confronting images of the September 11 terror attack in a work called “Thank you very much.”

Creative Australia is now in damage control, with the decision to withdraw Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino from the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition prompting a board member to resign, while a well-known philanthropist has pulled their funding.

It’s understood Mr Sabsabi’s confronting 2006 artwork was brought to the attention of the Creative Australia board during an emergency meeting on Thursday night. The board voted unanimously to rescind his invitation.

The 19 second video montage – which The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to publish – shows planes hitting the Twin Towers and multiple explosions – before former President George Bush is seen saying “Thank you... thank you very much.”

Khaled Sabsabi's artwork from 2007 featuring the now dead Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

A separate artwork by Mr Sabsabi from 2007 depicts the now-deceased Hezbollah terror leader Hassan Nasrallah, displaying his “face with beams of light that shine from his eyes and mouth, suggestive of a divine illumination.”

Liberal Senator Claire Chandler, raised concerns about these artworks in parliament on Thursday when she 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…?”

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke later confirmed he was “shocked” by some of Mr Sabsabi’s artworks and reiterated he was “not involved” in the selection process for the international event.

The dramatic backflip has prompted a fierce reaction from Australia’s arts community. Five other finalists for the Venice Biennale, who were beaten by Mr Sabsabi for the priceless opportunity, have written an open-letter calling for him to be reinstated.

Senator Claire Chandler brought the September 11 video by Mr Sabsabi to the government’s attention on Thursday Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We believe that revoking support for the current Australian artist and curator representatives… 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” the joint letter reads in part.

It is signed by James Nguyen, Hayley Millar Baker, Mel O’Callaghan, Jenna Mayilema Lee, Tamsin Hong and Tony Albert.

In two separate Instagram post, Mr Nguyen has also released a new work which reads: “Tony Burke – anagram for- Turkey Nob.” Another post by Mr Nguyen says “Claire Chandler – anagram for – Rancid Eel Larch.”

Leading philanthropist and banker Simon Mordant has now withdrawn his financial support for Australia’s involvement in the international art show, in support of Mr Sabsabi.

Works published on social media by James Nguyen, an Australian finalist for the 2026 Venice Biennale, after Khaled Sabsabi was dramatically withdrawn. Picture: Instagram

The Daily Telegraph has also been told Contemporary artist Lindy Lee is expected to resign from the Creative Australia board over the saga.

A separate letter from national art publication “Memo Review”, which has received more than 1,000 signatures, said Creative Australia had “capitulated immediately, without a whisper.”

“It is in the public interest to understand what political pressure was applied on Creative Australia and how it influenced the decision” the letter reads.

Earlier this month Mr Sabsabi, who fled war-torn Lebanon in the late 1970s, received overwhelmingly positive publicity after being announced as Australia’s representative for the 61st International Art Show – La Biennale di Venezia.

The veteran artist told one media outlet he had applied for the opportunity four times and remained determined to“breaking stereotypes, especially within the Australian context of Muslims and Arabs,”

In a statement on February 4, Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette said Mr Sabsabi’s work “reflects the diversity and plurality of Australia’s rich culture, and will spark meaningful conversations with audiences around the world.”

Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke said he was “shocked” by Mr Sabsabi’s works and insists he was “not involved” in his selection for the Venice Biennale. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Nine days later – after Mr Sabsabi’s September 11 work emerged – Creative Australia’s board decided that he would no longer be attending – claiming the ongoing controversy “poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia’s artistic community.”

Australia’s entry for the Venice Biennale was decided by an independent panel, with the successful team receiving a combined grant of $150,000 plus financial assistance to showcase at the Australia Pavilion in Italy.

Khaled Sabsabi said he and his curator Michael Dagostino were “extremely hurt and disappointed” with the decision.

Creative Australia, who are the federal government’s “principal art investment and advisory body”, cost taxpayers $250 million a year. It recently splurged $800,000 on an incentive called “Creative Climate”, in order to support “impactful change and embedding sustainable practices for the creative industries.”

After learning their invitation had been withdrawn- Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino said they “were extremely hurt and disappointed”.

“We intended to present a transformational work in Venice… an experience that would unite all audiences in an open and safe shared space. Art should not be censored as artists reflect the times they live in” they said.

In a statement of support, the Campbelltown Arts Centre said the two men have “dedicated their life and careers working in the arts in Western Sydney and beyond.”

Originally published as September 11 ‘thank you’ artwork forced award backflip