Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke says he was not briefed about some of Khaled Sabsabi’s early artworks when the artist was chosen to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, together with curator Michael Dagostino.
Creative Australia rescinded its invitation to the artistic team last week after questions were raised in Parliament by shadow arts minister Clare Chandler, on the merits of their selection for the Biennale.
Those questions were based on earlier works by Sabsabi showing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a video depicting images of 9/11 along with former US president George W Bush, titled “Thank you very much”.
Mr Burke told 7.30 he was not aware of the works raised by Senator Chandler.
Tony Burke says he was “not briefed” about some of Sabsabi’s earlier works. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“When something is due to be announced I get sent a brief with the issues that might be considered controversial … that particular work had not been raised with me in any of the briefs and was clearly more controversial than anything that had been. So, I was shocked when I saw it was there.”
Mr Burke described Sabsabi as “an extraordinary and gifted artist” and had been “really looking forward” to his work for the Biennale.
Last Thursday evening, the board of Creative Australia called a crisis meeting to review the selection.
Mr Burke clarified his engagement with the board of the government’s art funding body, saying reports he had spoken with board members were incorrect.
He told 7.30 he had only spoken with the CEO.
“I contacted one person only as soon as I came out of Question Time. That was Adrian Collette,” Mr Burke said.
“I said to him … whatever you decide, I will support you.”
Arts community uproar
The decision to cancel Sabsabi and Dagostino’s commission sparked furore in the arts community.
Creative Australia has rescinded its 2026 Venice Biennale invitation to Michael Dagostino (left) and Khaled Sabsabi. (Supplied)
Leading Australian arts figure, Simon Mordant, resigned as a Biennale ambassador.
In a statement to 7.30, Professor Mordant said: “I don’t want anyone to misinterpret my position here. I resigned as an ambassador to the 2026 Australian presentation at the Venice Biennale and withdrawn my financial pledge because of poor process by the government-run arts body.”
“I had no involvement in the selection nor the rescinding of Khaled Sabsabi’s commission.
“I want to be 100 per cent clear that I would never knowingly support an artist or a work of art that glorifies terrorism, racism or antisemitism or went against my values.”
There have been widespread calls in Australia’s arts community that no artist should accept a commission to replace Sabsabi and that the Australian pavilion should be empty.
7.30 contacted Sabsabi on Sunday, he said he is considering his response.
In a statement to 7.30, Creative Australia says it “acknowledges the process of determining the artist to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale has created deep disappointment in Australia’s artistic and cultural community.”
The board arts funding body says there will be an independent, external review into the decision-making process.
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