Latest news with #Sabsabi
AU Financial Review
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
Monash Uni backflips on Sabsabi show as Muslim campuses protest
Monash University's Museum Of Art will proceed with a show featuring controversial artist Khaled Sabsabi that it had postponed, with advocacy from students at its Indonesian and Malaysian campuses a factor in the decision. The Melbourne institution in March postponed Flat Earth, a show curated by Sydney-based publishing collective Stolon Press and including works by Sabsabi, the Sydney-based Muslim artist whose contract to represent Australia at 2026's Venice Biennale was rescinded by federal arts body Creative Australia, after the uncovering of early works depicting terrorism.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A clear sign that truth still matters': Sacked artist welcomes university decision
'This is a deeply personal moment for me,' he said. 'I'm relieved that common sense has prevailed and we can move forward with the Flat Earth curatorial vision and exhibition at MUMA. It's a clear sign that truth still matters. 'This is also about more than one artist or one show, it's about how we as an industry respond to challenges, stand by each other, and uphold the integrity of artistic expression.' Sabsabi added: 'This outcome was not achieved in isolation; it was the result of a shared determination to protect freedom of expression and support artists at a time when it matters most.' He also refuted the insinuations that arose from Creative Australia's decision to sack him. 'Let me be absolutely clear: I reject all forms of racism and hate. My practice is built on existence/coexistence, respect, and the urgent need to connect across cultural and political divides,' he said. 'This [MUMA] decision affirms that my work is understood in that spirit.' Loading He thanked and acknowledged the commitment of Stolon Press, the participating artists in Flat Earth, and the team at MUMA. 'This moment is a reminder that our institutions are stronger when they hold space with artists and curators for complexity and conversations,' Sabsabi said. 'This is now an opportunity for Creative Australia to revisit its decision regarding Venice 2026. Michael and I remain committed to representing Australia on the world stage with integrity and purpose.' The findings of an independent review into the Venice selection process are to be released next month. Flat Earth is the inaugural exhibition by Sydney-based publisher Stolon Press, created with MUMA's Dr Rebecca Coates and Stephanie Berlangieri. It is part of MUMA's 50th anniversary celebrations and will run until July 12. Stolon Press was created by writer Tom Melick and artist Simryn Gill in 2019. The Venice decision was prompted by two of the artist's works, one featuring footage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and another featuring the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year. 'Creative Australia is an advocate for freedom of artistic expression and is not an adjudicator on the interpretation of art,' the board wrote in a statement. 'However, the board believes a prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community...' That flew in the face of what the Sabsabi had proposed for Venice, he said, as well as his overarching philosophy. 'The [proposed Biennale] work is about bringing all people of faith, ethnicity, gender together to reflect and contemplate these troubled times we live in,' Sabsabi said. He and D'Agostino have mounted a crowdfunding campaign to help them get to Venice, but hope this latest move by Monash University indicates that change is possible and there is room for Creative Australia to reconsider its decision. Speaking to this masthead last month, Sabsabi said the cancellation had been a fundamental misunderstanding that two of his historical works celebrated terrorism, which he called a 'ridiculous' accusation when both critiqued war and media representations of ideology. 'Anyone who knows me or my work understands what I stand for,' he said when asked if he had ever promoted terrorism through his work. 'I do not stand for terrorism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any form of hate. 'I believe every race, ethnicity, faith, gender has the right to exist and co-exist. I'm an artist, not a politician, and my work for over 35 years is about finding ways to converse through complexity. That accusation is ridiculous.'
The Age
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘A clear sign that truth still matters': Sacked artist welcomes university decision
'This is a deeply personal moment for me,' he said. 'I'm relieved that common sense has prevailed and we can move forward with the Flat Earth curatorial vision and exhibition at MUMA. It's a clear sign that truth still matters. 'This is also about more than one artist or one show, it's about how we as an industry respond to challenges, stand by each other, and uphold the integrity of artistic expression.' Sabsabi added: 'This outcome was not achieved in isolation; it was the result of a shared determination to protect freedom of expression and support artists at a time when it matters most.' He also refuted the insinuations that arose from Creative Australia's decision to sack him. 'Let me be absolutely clear: I reject all forms of racism and hate. My practice is built on existence/coexistence, respect, and the urgent need to connect across cultural and political divides,' he said. 'This [MUMA] decision affirms that my work is understood in that spirit.' Loading He thanked and acknowledged the commitment of Stolon Press, the participating artists in Flat Earth, and the team at MUMA. 'This moment is a reminder that our institutions are stronger when they hold space with artists and curators for complexity and conversations,' Sabsabi said. 'This is now an opportunity for Creative Australia to revisit its decision regarding Venice 2026. Michael and I remain committed to representing Australia on the world stage with integrity and purpose.' The findings of an independent review into the Venice selection process are to be released next month. Flat Earth is the inaugural exhibition by Sydney-based publisher Stolon Press, created with MUMA's Dr Rebecca Coates and Stephanie Berlangieri. It is part of MUMA's 50th anniversary celebrations and will run until July 12. Stolon Press was created by writer Tom Melick and artist Simryn Gill in 2019. The Venice decision was prompted by two of the artist's works, one featuring footage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and another featuring the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year. 'Creative Australia is an advocate for freedom of artistic expression and is not an adjudicator on the interpretation of art,' the board wrote in a statement. 'However, the board believes a prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community...' That flew in the face of what the Sabsabi had proposed for Venice, he said, as well as his overarching philosophy. 'The [proposed Biennale] work is about bringing all people of faith, ethnicity, gender together to reflect and contemplate these troubled times we live in,' Sabsabi said. He and D'Agostino have mounted a crowdfunding campaign to help them get to Venice, but hope this latest move by Monash University indicates that change is possible and there is room for Creative Australia to reconsider its decision. Speaking to this masthead last month, Sabsabi said the cancellation had been a fundamental misunderstanding that two of his historical works celebrated terrorism, which he called a 'ridiculous' accusation when both critiqued war and media representations of ideology. 'Anyone who knows me or my work understands what I stand for,' he said when asked if he had ever promoted terrorism through his work. 'I do not stand for terrorism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any form of hate. 'I believe every race, ethnicity, faith, gender has the right to exist and co-exist. I'm an artist, not a politician, and my work for over 35 years is about finding ways to converse through complexity. That accusation is ridiculous.'
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Khaled Sabsabi says Creative Australia decision was ‘kneejerk' reaction that is ‘dismantling' his career
Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi has blamed Creative Australia for the 'dismantling' of his career and said the board's decision to revoke his appointment as Australia's Venice Biennale representative has given the green light for others to smear his reputation. In his first interview since being dumped from the prestigious art exhibition in February and just days after Monash University 'indefinitely postponed' another exhibition he was due to take part in, Sabsabi told Guardian Australia the board's 'kneejerk' reaction has affected his emotional and physical wellbeing, family and career. 'Nobody should have to go through this torture,' he said. 'It's unfair and it's put on by Creative Australia and those people that made that decision … essentially gave the go-ahead to define me as somebody who I am not. 'It's actually dismantling my career, but also more broadly, anyone else's career who may possibly engage with critically towards a political position or a political opinion.' Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, an experienced curator, were last year chosen as the winning team from dozens of applicants in an open call process to showcase a new work at the Australia Pavilion in Venice in 2026. Just days after their selection was made public in February and following negative media and political commentary about two of Sabsabi's historical artworks, Creative Australia's board rescinded their contract saying it wanted to avoid a 'prolonged and divisive debate'. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Sabsabi said the rushed move left the pair in 'shock and disbelief' and the board should have done more to protect them against 'misinformation' surrounding his artistic vision and practice. 'When the decision was made, I went through a period of three weeks, I was having nightmares, I couldn't sleep,' he said. Responding to the furore over his back catalogue, Sabsabi said the artworks had been taken out of context by journalists and politicians and said Liberal senator Claire Chandler's claims that he was promoting terrorism, antisemitism and glorifying violence were 'disgusting'. 'It really infuriated me to actually read how people were misrepresenting my works,' he said. 'Those works were viewed by over 80,000 people collectively and not one criticism or complaint from the public.' Sabsabi said he does 'not support or endorse any form of terrorism or racism or antisemitism or Islamophobia'. 'I'm a Sufi or tasawwuf follower … where you prioritise humanity over organised religions,' he said. Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Sabsabi said Thank you very much – his 2006 work which used archival footage of the 9/11 attacks alongside a clip of George Bush saying 'thank you very much' – was made the same year the former president admitted US troops had not found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq while Sabsabi was working as a settlement worker supporting Iraqi refugees in western Sydney. 'It [was] made 20 years ago and it's a critique of the brutalisation and the savageness of war,' he said. 'If people actually watch the 18-second video work, they will realise when those images of the horrific terrorist attack that was taking place … they'll hear screams of torment and torture. 'It looked at the power of media and how media can be used as a form of propaganda … that changed the way we see the world, the way we stereotype Muslims.' Similarly, he said the artwork You (2007), which is held in the MCA's collection and included footage of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declaring 'divine victory' in an address after the 34-day Lebanon-Israel war, was also stripped of necessary context. He said the artwork was made as he grappled with the scale of destruction caused to his birth country and the artwork was designed to have been viewed alongside a companion artwork which contained Quranic calligraphy. 'The idea was you walk into this space, into this experience, and you were physically put in a position: do I go to the right or do I go to the left?' 'So these are the sort of provocations that are instilled in my work.' Creative Australia did not respond to detailed questions from Guardian Australia about the impact its decision has had on Sabsabi's career, but referred to comments made by its CEO, Adrian Collette, at Senate estimates last month that the decision to remove Sabsabi and Dagostino was 'not a reflection on the artistic team recommended for Venice'. Sabsabi and Dagostino last week launched a public fundraising campaign to support their efforts to independently exhibit their proposed exhibition at Venice, if efforts to have them reinstated fail. 'This particular work is so important because it looks at Abrahamic religions and commonalities across those as well,' he said. The pair said their planned work will explore themes of identity, migration and resilience.
The Guardian
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Khaled Sabsabi show cancelled one month after sacking from Venice Biennale
An upcoming exhibition featuring works by artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was controversially dumped as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale last month, has been 'indefinitely postponed' by Monash University. Sabsabi, a Lebanese-born artist based in western Sydney, made headlines in February when he and curator Michael Dagostino were announced as Australia's representatives at the 2026 Venice Biennale. But just six days later, they were both dropped by Australia's federal arts body Creative Australia, after days of media and political pressure over Sabsabi's use of imagery from the 9/11 terrorist attacks and former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year, in old works. The upcoming exhibition, titled Stolon Press: Flat Earth, had been planned for 18 months and was due to open on 8 May at Monash University Museum of Art (Muma), in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield East. Guardian Australia understands the decision to call off the show was made by Monash University, not the staff at Muma. Sabsabi's gallerist, Josh Milani, said the decision was a worrying sign that Creative Australia's decision was negatively impacting Sabsabi's career more broadly. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'I have previously warned Creative Australia that their decision to repudiate Khaled Sabsabi's Venice Biennale commission had already set in motion the dismantling of his career and livelihood,' he said, adding: 'This cancellation is a direct result of Creative Australia's abandonment of him as an artist and a human being. They have allowed the mischaracterisation of him as a terrorist sympathiser to go unchecked. 'It should be clear, he is against terrorism and violence in all its forms and he is against racism in all its forms, including antisemitism.' A spokesperson for Monash University told Guardian Australia in a statement: 'Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) will postpone the Flat Earth exhibition at the Caulfield campus. 'Through consultation with our communities we have identified there is a need for the museum to deepen its collaboration and engagement on this exhibition. Postponing the event will allow this important work to be undertaken.' Monash did not respond to queries from Guardian Australia about why the exhibition was postponed, whether it would be rescheduled or whether the decision was taken in response to Creative Australia's sacking of Sabsabi. Alongside Sabsabi, the exhibition was to include works by Sydney art collective Stolon Press – a longtime collaborator with Sabsabi – and Elisa Taber, a writer and anthropologist. Muma's website says Sabsabi's works were 'large, coffee-infused calligraphic paintings rooted in tasawwuf (Sufism), alongside abstracted silhouette works that employ numerology and repetition to explore spirituality and our shared human condition'. Milani said Creative Australia's decision has 'had a devastating impact on [Sabsabi's] career and wellbeing' and that he would continue to fight to be reinstated at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Guardian Australia understands Creative Australia has paid out 90% of the $100,000 artist fee and $50,000 curator fee owed to the pair under the contract they signed before being abruptly terminated. Milani said he hoped Creative Australia's ongoing review into the process of selection of Sabsabi and Dagostino would result in them being reinstated. 'The decision by Creative Australia to repudiate his Venice Biennale contract was based on views which have now been almost unanimously disavowed by countless experts in the sector,' Milani said. 'When a bad, rushed decision based on incorrect information leads to a gross injustice, the courageous and ethical thing to do is to reverse the decision. 'It would be a win-win-win for everyone – for Khaled, for Creative Australia, for the art sector,' he said. Guardian Australia has contacted Creative Australia and Muma for comment. Amid widespread outrage in the Australian art world over the decision, it is unlikely another artist and curator will agree to replace Sabsabi and Dagostino – which may mean the Australian pavilion remains empty at the 2026 biennale. But Milani said Sabsabi will continue to make the planned biennale work, regardless of whether he is reinstated. 'We are making plans in that regard for it to be seen by a global audience,' he said.
