While Others Remain Silent

Translation / Interpretation / Caption Text

Kyle Goen's original poster may be viewed here

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Analysis / Interpretation / Press

EXCERPT

LOS ANGELES — Over the past two months, many cultural workers who have expressed solidarity with Palestinians or simply demanded a ceasefire in Gaza have faced a barrage of criticism and even had their careers negatively impacted. These include well-known figures like Ai Weiwei, whose solo show at Lisson Gallery was canceled after the artist made a social media post, and Jewish South African-born artist Candice Breitz, whose upcoming exhibition at the Saarland Museum’s Modern Gallery in Germany was nixed after she made comments online decrying “the inhumane and grotesque bombardment of Gaza.”

Amid headline-grabbing reports of professional retaliation and backlash, however, a considerable number of galleries, organizations, and art workers are advocating for Palestinian liberation and an end to the mounting civilian deaths in the region, and they are doing so publicly and vocally.

Zach Feuer, who owned a namesake gallery in New York and is now the curator of the Gochman Family Collection, had been critical of Israel long before October 7, but says the tone of people’s reactions has grown increasingly hostile in recent weeks.

“At first, when angry Zionists came at me, I was taken aback,” Feuer told Hyperallergic. “I didn’t realize that people would be upset about requests for aid, for ceasefire. That was shocking.” Feuer, whose father was born in Israel and is descended from Holocaust survivors, said that he is fortunate that his career is not dependent on keeping his opinions to himself.

“The art world that I’m engaged with, they clearly see who the oppressed and oppressor are,” Feuer added. His observation makes plain that while the market-focused section of the art world has mostly remained silent or issued pro-Israel positions, other parts of the cultural sector do not necessarily share that sentiment.

Source:

https://hyperallergic.com/859418/while-others-remain-silent-these-art-spaces-are-vocally-pro-palestine/