South Africa Withdraws Gaza-Focused Art Proposal for Venice Biennale

South Africa has officially withdrawn a performance piece titled *Elegy*, which was intended to mourn victims of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, from its pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The decision was made by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, led by Minister Gayton McKenzie, who expressed concerns that the artwork would amplify divisive global disputes rather than focus on South Africa's narrative. The performance, created by artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo, was selected by an independent committee in December 2022.

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The *Elegy* performance aimed to address themes of displacement and death in Gaza, alongside issues such as femicide in South Africa and historical genocides in Namibia. However, McKenzie deemed the subject matter "highly divisive" and threatened to withdraw South Africa from the Biennale if the proposal was not retracted. This move has been criticized by the pavilion selection committee, which labeled it unconstitutional and a violation of artistic freedom.

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In a statement, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture emphasized that McKenzie’s concerns were not about censorship but rather about avoiding the pavilion becoming a "proxy arena for geopolitical conflicts." The spokesperson noted that South Africa is currently facing contested narratives internationally, including accusations of being a "genocidal state." The department also mentioned that there were claims of foreign funding for the exhibition, though specifics were not provided.

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The selection committee, in an open letter, reaffirmed their support for Goliath and Masondo, stating their commitment to artistic integrity and free expression. They condemned any attempts to silence critical artistic practices.

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Critics of the decision, including members of the selection committee, argue that it undermines artistic freedom and the role of art in addressing global issues. Goliath has publicly stated that her work is focused on themes of mourning and survival, and she has appealed the decision to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

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Despite the withdrawal of *Elegy*, South Africa will still participate in the Venice Biennale, with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture retaining control over the administration and curation of the pavilion. The future direction of South Africa's representation at the Biennale remains to be seen, particularly in light of the ongoing debates surrounding artistic expression and national identity.

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• “We affirm our continued and unequivocal support for the artist, the curator, and their project in the face of political pressure and attempts to silence free expression and compromise artistic integrity,” — Selection Committee Members

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• “His concern relates solely to the fact that South Africa is currently the subject of highly contested and politically charged narratives internationally, including being falsely labelled a 'genocidal state,'" the spokesperson said, possibly referring to comparisons between Israel and Apartheid-era South Africa.” — Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Spokesperson

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• “I have said it many times: my work is not about violence, but rather foregrounds practices of mourning, survival, and repair, within and despite this normative disregard,” — Gabrielle Goliath

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