The Art of Censorship

The Art of Censorship

Censorship is part and parcel of any art festival—Kipp just wishes the UAE was more artful about it.

March 25, 2012 4:33 by kippreport

Last week Kipp drew your attention to artful art festivals happening across the city in honor of Art Week. This week Kipp draws your attention to the artful censorship happening across the city in honor of Art Week.

The National reports that two art pieces have been taken down from the exhibition at Art Dubai on the grounds of being ‘offensive’.

Art director Sossy Dikijian of Artspace said: We took them down because the CID came and said Sheikh Mohammed was coming. After Sheikh Mohammed left we put the Ramhani work back, but the CID came again and said more sheikhs are coming and if they see it, it might cause a problem; they might be offended.”

The offensive art works in question? Here is the first one called Palestinian artist Shadi Al Zaqzouq titled “After Washing.” The word printed on the underwear translates to ‘LEAVE’

Here is the other offensive art work by Moroccan artist Zakaria Ramhani, and titled “You Were My Only Love.”

It hasn’t even been a year since the Sharjah Biennial Artistic Director Jack Persekian has been dismissed from his post, following orders from Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. Censorship is part and parcel of any art festival—Kipp just wishes the UAE was more artful about it.