Biennale organisers want to leave politics behind and focus on the art
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Version 0 of 1. The organisers of the Sydney Biennale have issued a plea to leave behind the politics that have dogged the arts festival. The month-long exhibition of contemporary art, set to open on Friday, has been marred by a controversy that led to the dumping of a major sponsor, Transfield, and the resignation of the chairman of the Biennale board. Federal arts minister George Brandis slammed the decision for Transfield to be dumped. At a preview of the show at Cockatoo Island on Tuesday, artistic director Juliana Engberg said, “I hope we can now begin to focus on the art.” Biennale chief executive Marah Braye noted that art was no stranger to controversy: “Art and politics have a long and intertwined history,” she said, adding that some of the best art had been created in conditions of protest. This year a group of artists penned an open letter calling for a boycott of the event after it emerged that Transfield was indirectly involved in building offshore detention centres. Transfield director Luca Belgiorno-Nettis subsequently stood down as head of the Biennale board. Andrew Cameron, who is standing in as chairman in his place, said his predecessor wasn’t sacked. “Luca Belgiorno-Nettis made the decision to resign from his role. He did so to clear the air for the board,” he said. “It was made by Luca and he was absolutely not sacked.” Sydney-based artist Mikala Dwyer, who signed the letter and whose sculptural work The Hollows is on display at Cockatoo Island, said the controversy had left artists torn. “It’s been the most heartbreaking process for the artists,” she told AAP. “A lot of people are very fond of Luca as well. It was not personal.” The Biennale runs from March 21 to June 9. |