Artist Benkovich assessed the battle of art figures around Israel: “It looks like anti-Semitism”

Western cultural community split over Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Western cultural community published a discovery letter signed by more than 8,000 artists, gallerists, filmmakers and other artists, which caused great resonance and even a scandal. The fact is that the authors call for a ceasefire in Gaza, but are silent about the Hamas attack on Israel and the captured Israelis. Some art figures have already admitted that their signature on the message was a mistake. Others condemned him, writing several open letters in response, highlighting the barbaric actions of the militants, the Israeli sacrifices and the hostage situation. Artist Konstantin Benkovich, in a conversation with MK, called the controversial letter “outright anti-Semitism.”

“We support the liberation of Palestine and call for an end to the killing and harm of all civilians, an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and an end to the complicity of our governing bodies in serious human rights violations and war crimes.” The open letter, signed by more than 8,000 art figures, including many respected artists, had the effect of a bomb exploding.

In response, New York gallerists Dominic Levy, Amalia Dayan and Brett Gorvy (the latter served as head of Christie’s post-war and contemporary art department until 2016) wrote their statement. “We are saddened by an open letter recently posted on Artforum that fails to mention the hostage emergency, historical context, and atrocities committed in Israel on October 7, 2023—the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust,” it said.

Following this, another open letter appeared, also in favor of a ceasefire, condemning Hamas, and supporting both Israelis and Palestinians. It was signed by more than 5,000 art figures.

In general, a battle of letters has unfolded in the art community, which shows that there is no harmony in the cultural ranks and, it seems, not everyone is aware of the history of the conflict or did not bother to delve into the essence of the first message that caused such a resonance. However, it is unlikely that politicians will pay attention to the Palestinian-Israeli dispute in the art environment. So why blow into the wind?

“I believe that in modern society everyone has the right to express the opinion they see fit,” says artist Konstantin Benkovich, who on October 7 was in Tel Aviv, where his relatives live, and saw with his own eyes how Israel bombs are flying. Three years ago, Benkovich secretly installed khaki-colored rebar flags of Israel and Palestine at the Center for Contemporary Art in Tel Aviv.

“These are not just flags of states, they are a symbol of the confrontation between two peoples. Military uniform chevrons. Art gives you the opportunity to look at yourself from the outside, to stop seeing enemies in each other,” the author explained then.

– Would you sign any collective letters on behalf of a certain creative community?

– No. Art has quite a lot of tools and opportunities to convey one point of view or another to people, and this is definitely not a collective letter. I also don’t think that such letters are capable of influencing real politics and the situation. As for the support of Palestine by artists while hushing up the terrorist attack carried out in Israel on October 7 with mass killings and captivity of hostages and without discussing the terrorist organization Hamas behind it, this seems like obvious anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is a heavy legacy of the past that has become indecent in modern society, but, unfortunately, it has not gone away. Now anti-Semitism is covered up with anti-Israeli attacks. A truly barbaric, monstrous aggression against Israel took place, and Israel, according to all international laws, has the right to self-defense and is obliged as a state to protect its citizens.

– Indeed, it is strange that these artists did not try to express their opinions through their art. Maybe they signed it for show? Or why?

– In Europe and the USA, left-wing ideas now predominate in university and artistic environments. These are anti-colonial social ideas. In their understanding, Israel colonizes Palestine and does not give them the opportunity to organize their own state. Almost apartheid. But there is one “but”. Israel accepted, but the Palestinians did not accept, the 1948 UN resolution declaring that two independent states should be formed in place of the British mandate. The Palestinians, along with other Arab states, declared war on Israel and lost. There were also a series of wars where the Arab countries and the Palestinians were the aggressors. The goal of these wars was the destruction of Israel and, in fact, the total destruction and genocide of Jews on Israeli territory. Throughout its history, Israel has been fighting for its existence. Moreover, Israel, as a democratic state, fights and fights in a purely civilized manner. Israel is a small state, and Gaza is only 70 km from Tel Aviv, which is 40 minutes by car. The attack on October 7 showed what awaits each of the Israelis if the war is lost.