International Event Removes Lebanese Australian Artist for Exploiting Western Anxieties in Artwork
An artistic duo scheduled to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale has been removed from the lineup following concerns raised in parliament.
Creative Australia, the principal arts investment and advisory body of the Australian Government, has made the unanimous decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, the artistic duo previously chosen for the prestigious event.
The Venice Biennale, a renowned international art exhibition, features creative works from artists worldwide.
Sabsabi, who sought refuge in Australia during the Lebanese civil war in the late 1970s, has created installations depicting imagery related to Sept. 11 and a digital piece with a speech by the late Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, a designated terrorist by the Australian government.
On Feb. 13, Senator Claire Chandler expressed concerns in parliament over Sabsabi’s past works featuring Nasrallah.
“Mr. Sabsabi includes the deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in his artwork,” she mentioned.
In response, Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged she was unaware of the artist’s history but agreed that glorifying a terrorist leader in artworks was inappropriate.
Sabsabi and Dagostino released a statement expressing their disappointment with the decision, emphasizing their intention to present a unifying work at the Biennale.
Despite the setback, they remain committed to their artistic vision and plan to seek community support for their project.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which owns one of Sabsabi’s previous installations featuring Nasrallah, describes the artwork as depicting the Hezbollah leader.
Creative Australia emphasized its support for creative expression but cited the risk of social divisions stemming from Sabsabi’s art history.
