The Australian government’s principal arts investment and advisory body, Creative Australia, has announced the unanimous decision to drop the artistic duo Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, previously selected to represent the nation at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The Venice Biennale is a major international art exhibition showcasing creative endeavours from around the world.
Sabsabi, who fled to Australia with his family amid civil war in Lebanon in the late 1970s, has created art installations depicting imagery associated with Sept. 11, as well as a digital installation depicting a speech by now-deceased Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah is recognised by the Australian government as a terrorist organisation.
On Feb. 13, Liberal Senator Claire Chandler told parliament she was concerned about Sabsabi’s past depictions.
“Mr Sabsabi features the dead Hezbollah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah in his artworks,” she said.
“With such appalling anti-Semitism in our country, why is the Albanese government allowing the person who highlights a terrorist leader in his artwork to represent Australia on the international stage at the Venice Biennale?” she asked in parliament.
In response, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she had been unaware of the artist’s past, but agreed that artworks glorifying the terrorist leader were inappropriate.
Sabsabi and Dagostino responded with a public statement, in which the duo said they were “hurt and disappointed” by the government’s decision.
“We intended to present a transformational work in Venice, an experience that would unite all audiences in an open and safe shared space,” they said.
“This reflects and builds on the work we have done for decades and will do for many more.”
“We believe in the vision of artists for an inclusive future that can bring us together to communicate and progress our shared humanity.
“We also believe that, despite this decision, the Australian art world will not dim or be silent.”
The pair emphasised that art should not be censored, as artists reflect the time they live in. They added that they would be seeking community support to realise their project.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which owns Sabsabi’s 2007 art installation featuring Nasrallah, titled You, describes him as “the leader of the Lebanese paramilitary and political organisation Hezbollah.”
The artwork involves words used by Nasrallah at a victory rally following a 34-day war with Israel, repeating the words over and over until they sounded like a chant in a stadium.
“Sabsabi has also manipulated the video footage, obscuring Nasrullah’s face with beams of light that shine from his eyes and mouth, suggestive of a divine illumination,” the art museum says on its website.
The museum says the work “plays on Western fears of cultural difference.”
Creative Australia issued a statement supporting creative expression, but noted the risk of social division surrounding Sabsabi’s art history.
“A prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia’s artistic community and could undermine our goal of bringing Australians together through art and creativity,” the group said.
“Creative Australia will be reviewing the selection process for the Venice Biennale 2026.”
