Ten Curators in support of Khaled Sabsabi: Edition 1
Artist Profile will be publishing ten pieces of text from international and local curators as a series of editions. These distinguished curators provided their words voluntarily in support of Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino after Creative Australia “honoured Khaled and dishonoured him” (Simryn Gill, 7.30 Report) in less than a week of announcing Sabsabi and Dagostino as the 2026 Venice Biennale team to represent Australia.
The call for the reinstatement of Sabsabi and Dagostino has been loud and strong from within the visual arts community here and abroad. The curators in support of Sabsabi have previously written on and curated his artwork.
Eugenio Viola is an Italian art critic and Artistic Director of the Bogota Museum of Modern Art, Colombia. Viola was the Senior Curator at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, in Western Australia between 2017-19 where he curated Sabsabi’s 'A self-portrait' in 2018. ~ Kon Gouriotis, Editor
In full support of Khaled Sabsabi’s work
Khaled Sabsabi’s artistic research stands as a powerful exploration of his Lebanese heritage and the realities of the Middle Eastern diaspora. Like many of his peers, he directly confronts the violent legacy of decades of conflict, refusing to shy away from the complexities it introduces. His research initiates critical dialogues that unflinchingly address the deep shadows cast over both personal and collective memory by this tumultuous history. By integrating Sufism and numerology, Sabsabi delves into the spiritual and symbolic dimensions essential to the universal human experience, asserting that these layers of meaning are vital to understanding our shared condition.
Sabsabi’s artistic research focuses heavily on visual media’s evocative and political weight, delving into how narrative and memory intersect within the complex territories of conflict. In reflecting upon the contested memories of his homeland, Sabsabi’s work becomes a platform for redefining historical narratives across the Arab world and beyond.
However, approaching Khaled Sabsabi’s work through the lens of his native country’s history and context is merely a starting point for understanding its full impact, particularly when we consider its urgency and complexity. Sabsabi’s work challenges prevailing Western representations and offers a critical “parallax” perspective on diasporic narratives. He firmly believes that art has the power to champion the coexistence and respect for all differences, significantly enhancing its ability to build bridges rather than borders in a world increasingly marked by sectarian divides. Consequently, his art serves as a powerful reflection of this potential in a time characterized by widespread, culturally motivated violence.
Sabsabi’s work boldly creates essential spaces for voices and narratives that traditional political discourse often overlooks or suppresses. He challenges prevailing perceptions by investigating the tension between personal recollection and societal history. He opens up a profound avenue for examining how memories are constructed—individually and within communities.
Employing what G. Didi-Huberman calls the “politics of imagination,” Sabsabi catalyses a bold and incisive re-reading of history, opening up imaginative possibilities that extend beyond conventional frameworks of understanding. His work demands dynamic engagement, providing viewers with a unique space for mediation that brings his experiences and memories to the forefront. Thus, Sabsabi compels us to rethink and reshape the narratives that underpin our shared human histories.
Given these considerations, I proudly curated his most significant institutional exhibition in Australia at the Perth Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) in 2018. Today, I fully endorse his reintegration to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale. I am certain he will produce an impactful work that resonates with our uncertain times and upholds the high standards Australia deserves.
Eugenio Viola, Artistic Director, Bogota Museum of Modern Art, Colombia
Artwork: Khaled Sabsabi, guerrilla set C, 2007-2018, acrylic paint, watercolour, gouache, dye diffusion thermal print paper, Art Gallery of NSW Collection. Courtesy of the artist
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