"Olive Tree," from Larissa Sansour's "Nation Estate" project
Politically-charged censorship or crisis-management gone horribly wrong? The tale of Palestinian multimedia artist Larissa Sansour's dramatic removal from the shortlist of the 2011 Lacoste Elysée Prize appears to have torpedoed the French luxury-goods brand's association with Lausanne institution Musée de l'Elysée, which on Wednesday evening announced that it was immediatley cancelling its partnership to host the €25,000 photography award, now only in its second year.
"The Musée de l’Elysée has decided to suspend the organisation of the Lacoste Elysée Prize 2011," read the statement. 'Each nominee had carte blanche to interpret the theme in which ever way they favored, in a direct or indirect manner, with authenticity or irony, based upon their existing or as an entirely new creation.... The Musée de l’Elysée has based its decision on the private partner’s wish to exclude Larissa Sansour, one of the prize nominees. We reaffirm our support to Larissa Sansour for the artistic quality of her work and her dedication. For 25 years, the Musée de l’Elysée has defended with strength artists, their work, freedom of the arts and of speech. With the decision it has taken today, the Musée de l’Elysée repeats its commitment to its fundamental values."
ReplyDeleteHaving submitted preliminary sketches for her work to the committee in November, and having received a <span>€</span>4,000 working grant from Lacoste, Sansour says the news of her removal came as a complete surprise. This surprise was compounded by a request from the organizers, asking her to sign a statement saying that she withdrew from her nomination "in order to pursue other opportunities." This she refused outright.
ReplyDeleteWeasels. This will backfire on them. Their decision was wrong, but it was also really, really stupid.
Too pro-Palestinian - she should have said "I think Israel should only kill a few dozen Palestinan children per annum."
ReplyDeleteMabye England shouldn't have provoked Israelis and Palestinians into fighting each other.
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