Royal Academy removes Gaza-inspired works after Jewish group flags concerns
Gallery apologises for ‘any hurt and distress’ as two artworks withdrawn from Young Artists’ Summer Show
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) has removed two works inspired by Gaza from its Young Artists’ Summer Show after an open letter from the Board of Deputies of British Jews raised “significant concerns” about their content.
In a letter posted on X this week, a board vice-president, Andrew Gilbert, described three works on display at the gallery as containing “antisemitic tropes and messaging”, which had caused “significant concern to members of our community”.
Gilbert went on to question “the judgment of allowing these pictures with their highly politically charged and controversial messages” into the exhibition “with no attempt to present any context or contextualising works which might express a contrary view”.
The first work in question was created by an 18-year-old artist and includes the phrase “Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in Our Name”. The board said the work “appears to be a submission from someone non-Jewish”.
A second piece portrays a screaming woman and a swastika, with the 16-year-old artist behind it saying he felt the Israel-Gaza conflict “draws many parallels with the Nazis’ oppression” in a piece now removed from the RA’s website.
A third work, which remains on display as part of the separate Summer Exhibition, is called The Mass Slaughter of Women and Girls Is Not How You Deradicalise Gaza by the RA academician Michael Sandle, and depicts a faceless pilot and a plane bearing the Star of David in front of bodies in burial shrouds.
The board said it was “aware of the long and admirable tradition of anti-war art” and that it was sure it was not the intention of individual artists to produce antisemitic messaging.
But it said their display was “giving the impression that the RA is taking a political stance on a very controversial issue, which would seem at odds with its objectives, not to mention its charitable status”.
The RA apologised for “any hurt and distress” caused by the artworks. The institution said after “thorough” discussions with the help of “external guidance” it had decided to remove two of the works from display.
A statement said: “As an organisation committed to freedom of expression, works in the exhibition often reflect current societal and political topics that matter to young people, from women’s rights to global conflict.
“We are aware of concerns about two artworks that relate to the Israel/Palestine conflict. We have discussed the matter thoroughly and have also received external guidance.
“We recognise that an exhibition for young people and artwork by young people is not an appropriate environment for volatile public discourse.”
The RA also said it offered a duty of care to the artists it exhibited and the visitors to the galleries, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable.
“Having reviewed and considered the matter carefully, we feel that by continuing to display these artworks, with limited opportunity to provide context or discourse, we would risk causing undue upset and could put people at risk.”
"these pictures with their highly politically charged and controversial messages" a/.k.a. the truth.
The BOD seem most excised that there was "...no attempt to present any context or contextualising works which might express a contrary view".
Maybe they should have a big canvas with "Israel disputes this" on it or "We have the right to massacre as much as we want".
Spineless, craven, supine wankers....no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
It's nauseating to see that a casuistical rebuke from zionazi genocide collaborators is all it took to bring the RA to heel.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
I always think of Chomsky when the "complicated" issues arise....
I wondered how the items got through the censorship then had the suspicion that they were allowed in, to enable this conspicuous diktat, from the zionist antisemites. I would have framed the letter and added contextualising images from the Warsaw Ghetto and from Treblinka.
I hope that the exhibitors withdraw their entries in solidarity and set up a Salon des anti-nazis outside, while the weather lasts.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
Ludicrous case taking place today. Two Muslim women employed by Lloyds made comments advocating for divestment from the Zionist entity and were then given final written warnings.
Truly disgraceful.
They are now taking Lloyds to an industrial tribunal which ends today.
Expert witness for Lloyds is the well known genocidal Zionist racist Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust, which exists to run point for the settler entity.
At present the expert witness for the claimants Antony Lerman is giving evidence, and being cross-examined by Charles Ciumei KC for Lloyds.
Ciumei is making very heavy weather of the cross-examination - attempting to draw Tony Lerman into answers that effectively smear him and failing to land any real punches.
His demeanour is getting more and more exasperated.
...no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
Adidas removes Bella Hadid from ad campaign after criticism from Israel
Company says it is ‘revising’ work for shoe designed for 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorists
Adidas has pulled images of the model Bella Hadid from adverts promoting a sports shoe first launched to coincide with the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
The German-based sportswear company said it was “revising” its campaign after criticism from Israel over Hadid’s involvement.
The SL72 trainers, described by Adidas as a timeless classic, were promoted by Hadid, an American whose family has its roots in Palestine.
The model, who previously drew the ire of the Israeli government for allegedly chanting the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, has been accused of antisemitism.
Israel’s official account on X said it objected to Hadid as “the face of [the Adidas] campaign” in a post that noted that “eleven Israelis were murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics”.
Hadid has repeatedly criticised the Israeli government and supported Palestinians over the years and on 23 October made a statement on Instagram lamenting the loss of innocent lives while calling on followers to pressure their leaders to protect civilians in Gaza.
Adidas said in a statement that the campaign for the SL72 shoe “unites a broad range of partners”. It said: “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events – though these are completely unintentional – and we apologise for any upset or distress caused.
“As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign.”
It did not set out what changes would be made. Other advertising images showing Adidas brand ambassadors including the French footballer Jules Koundé, the US rapper A$AP Nast and the Chinese model Sabrina Lan remain online.
Members of the Palestinian group Black September broke into the Olympic village on 5 September 1972. Eleven members of the Israeli team were taken hostage and killed.
It is not the first time that the sportswear company has cut ties with celebrity ambassadors after accusations of antisemitism.
Adidas ended its partnership with the rapper Kanye West in October 2022, saying it “does not tolerate antisemitism” after the rapper was suspended from Instagram and Twitter over offensive posts.
It said the comments and actions from West had been “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous and violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness”.
...no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
Adidas now facing social media calls for boycott
Posted by RaskolnikovX on July 20, 2024, 8:57 am, in reply to "and another one"
after collapsing to the apartheid state's lobby. Good....no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
Re: and another one
Posted by Keith-264 on July 20, 2024, 2:07 pm, in reply to "and another one"
Members of the Palestinian group Black September broke into the Olympic village on 5 September 1972. Eleven members of the Israeli team were taken hostage and killed.
Note that the identity of the killers is implied? Some were killed by the West German polizei.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
Re: and another one
Posted by RaskolnikovX on July 20, 2024, 3:14 pm, in reply to "Re: and another one"
Most of them iirc, during the rescue attempt on the helicopter/coach....no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
on July 19, 2024, 6:13 am