Six Artists Withdraw from Exhibition at MAXXI Museum in Rome Over Palestine Stance
Six artists recently announced their decision to withdraw from an exhibition at the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome due to the museum’s alleged stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the brutal occupation of Palestine. The artists, including Tania Bruguera and Phil Collins, cited the museum’s ties to entities complicit in Israeli aggression towards Palestinians, such as a collaboration with the energy company Eni.
In a letter published on the website Nero, the international artists and Italian pro-Palestine action groups called for a boycott of the museum until it denounces Israel’s actions in Gaza and commits to severing all ties with companies involved in crimes against humanity. The artists, including SiniĆĄa MitroviÄ, Alessandra Saviotti, Gemma Medina, and Dora Garcia, signed the letter just days before the opening of the exhibition curated by Nicolas Bourriaud.
The artists specifically mentioned MAXXI’s collaboration with Eni, an Italian company that reportedly received an Israeli offshore oil exploration license, allowing it to drill near Gaza. The artists also raised concerns about the museum’s partnerships with other companies, including Leonardo S.p.A. and its foundation for culture Med-Or.
Protesters in Italy recently targeted Eni’s oil-exporting vessels believed to be headed for Israel, highlighting the controversy surrounding the company’s activities in the region. The artists accused MAXXI of legitimizing Zionist propaganda and narratives that erase Palestinian culture and history through its partnerships with these companies.
In a separate letter, Palestine activist groups expressed their solidarity with the artists’ decision to withdraw from the exhibition and boycott cultural institutions complicit with the military-industrial complex. The groups emphasized the importance of artists taking responsibility for the impact of their work and not contributing to the legitimization of injustices.
