The open letter was published in The Sun Herald and The Sunday Age, the two advertisements funded by a mix of artists, intellectuals and benefactors, according to Morton.
Signatories go back to Australia’s entry in 1978. Missing from the rollcall appears to be abstract, figurative and surrealist painter Peter Booth (1982) and photographer Bill Henson, who represented Australia at the 46th Venice Biennale.
“The Venice Biennale is a rare and critical platform for Australian artists,” the statement read.
“Being selected is an extraordinary honour, and to strip the chosen artistic team of this opportunity is unacceptable.
“Indeed, it signals a fundamental disregard for the role of artists in our society – especially by the very institution meant to defend them.”
The families of the late Howard Arkley (1999) and John Davis (1978) also gave their support.
Shaun Gladwell (Venice 2009) said he signed out of personal concern for the artist and curator.
“It’s important to acknowledge how important Venice is to the individuals,” he said. “It’s a career highlight as a curator and a huge moment in the career of the artist, which is not to enter the politics and discourse they are embroiled. So that’s an enormous thing to be offered to you, and galling to be rescinded and retracted.”
But the withdrawn invitation was also a “critical disaster” for management of Australia’s entry in 2026, Gladwell warned.
Two years was not long to realise a project which artists “consider the biggest highlight of their career on the biggest stage in the world”.
“For a project that enormity, as soon as you are offered you have to go to work to realise it,” he said. “There are always things that are going to go wrong, that haemorrhage time.
“Even if we get the artist reinstated it will still be disastrous, with so much time lost in limbo. It’s disaster on disaster to thwart and ruin the chance of this and every other possible project.”
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young has called for a full and frank inquiry into how the decision was made, who was involved and how much it has cost the Australian taxpayer.
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Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance chief executive, Erin Madeley issued a statement last week calling for an end to political interference in artistic practice.
“Art sheds critical light on our society and must challenge preconceptions, even if that makes some people uncomfortable. It is unrealistic to expect artists to leave their beliefs at the door. Any interference which seeks to prevent this must be unreservedly condemned.”
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