South African artist Gabrielle Goliath is presenting her performance project Elegy, originally intended to represent her country at the Venice Biennale, in an alternative venue following its cancellation in January. Goliath’s work will be on view for three months at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin church in Venice’s Castello district, adjacent to the now-empty South African Pavilion at the Arsenale.
Art Against Censorship
The exhibition is being realized independently after the Minister of Culture issued a cancellation decision, citing content related to Israel’s war in Gaza. Goliath and her curator Ingrid Masondo described the court’s ruling as “a dangerous precedent that endangers the freedom of expression of artists and creatives in South Africa.”
Developed since 2015, Elegy commemorates the injustices faced by women and queer individuals in South Africa, as well as the Herero and Nama genocide of the early 20th century. For its presentation in Venice, the artist added a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, who was killed in an Israeli attack in October 2023. This addition played a direct role in the project’s cancellation.
During the performance, female vocal artists take the stage one by one in front of a black backdrop, presenting their pieces through posture and movement accompanying a single sustained note. After each artist completes her performance, the next takes her place. The video installation is presented across eight large screens.
The presentation also includes a ghazal prepared in tribute to a poem written by Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada shortly before her death.
Goliath’s exhibition is realized with the support of the Bertha Foundation and London-based Ibraaz. The exhibition will also be presented at Ibraaz as part of Frieze London in October.
