Australia Drops Khaled Sabsabi as Venice Biennale Representative

Khaled Sabsabi has been dropped as Australia's representative for the 2026 Venice Biennale just days after his selection, due to controversy surrounding his previous works depicting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Critics pointed to Sabsabi’s 2007 video installation, which they argue portrays Nasrallah in a favorable light, as a catalyst for public backlash, especially in the context of rising antisemitism in Australia. The decision by Creative Australia to rescind Sabsabi's selection came after pressure from political figures and a critical article published in The Australian, which labeled the artist's work as 'questionable.' Creative Australia expressed that the ongoing debate surrounding the selection posed a risk to public support for the arts in Australia. Following Sabsabi's removal, the organization indicated it would review its selection process for future Biennale representations. This incident raises questions about the implications for Australia's artistic representation and the balance between artistic freedom and public sentiment.