Ai Weiwei’s show at Lisson Galllery, which was expected to take place on Nov 15 has been cancelled after artist’s tweets on Israel’s actions on Gaza. The gallery stated that the show was postponed whereas Ai said it was ‘effectively cancelled’.
Lisson Gallery said in a statement; “We together agreed that now is not the right time to present his new body of work,’’ adding that the decision was made after “extensive conversations” with Ai Weiwei.
The statement continues as;
“There is no place for debate that can be characterized as anti-Semitic or Islamophobic at a time when all efforts should be on ending the tragic suffering in Israeli and Palestinian territories, as well as in communities internationally,” the gallery’s statement continues. “Ai Weiwei is well-known for his support of freedom of expression and for championing the oppressed, and we deeply respect and value our longstanding relationship with him.”
It was reported that Ai Weiwei’s studio told the Art Newspaper, which broke the story, that he decided “to avoid further disputes and for my own well-being.”
The now-deleted post on the social media platform X read:
“The sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people has been, at times, transferred to offset the Arab world. Financially, culturally, and in terms of media influence, the Jewish community has had a significant presence in the United States. The annual $3bn aid package to Israel has, for decades, been touted as one of the most valuable investments the United States has ever made. This partnership is often described as one of shared destiny.”
