Muslim artist dropped from Venice Biennale says his work was ‘misrepresented’
Khaled Sabsabi says his art critiques war and propaganda, does not promote extremism
SYDNEY, Australia (MNTV) – Lebanese-Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi says his past artworks were “grossly misrepresented” after being removed as Australia’s representative at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The decision came after accusations that he supported Osama bin Laden and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah.
The claims center around two video works: Thank You Very Much (2006) and YOU (2007).
The first includes footage of the 9/11 attacks paired with a clip of President George W. Bush thanking emergency responders.
The second features Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2024.
Sabsabi told ABC Radio National that the move by Creative Australia was “devastating.”
“I’m an artist, a storyteller,” he said. “Art should create conversation—even difficult ones.”
He warned against politicizing art.
“It’s dangerous when artwork becomes weaponized,” he said.
“Our Biennale proposal was about existence and coexistence.”
Sabsabi rejected the idea that his work promotes extremism.
“Those pieces are about the brutality of war and the power of propaganda. They’ve been taken completely out of context,” he said.
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