Vasari Art Codex

goliath goes to court abramovic brings installation to davos morning links for january 21 2026 1234770406

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath is taking legal action after her artwork was removed from the country's Venice Biennale pavilion. Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo will file an application with South Africa's High Court in Pretoria, arguing that the decision by Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is unconstitutional. They have also sent a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, demanding that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) honor the selection committee's original choice and allow the exhibition to proceed. Meanwhile, the DSAC has reportedly restarted the Biennale planning process with the collective Beyond the Frames.

article news schedule Jan 14, 2026 link 9 artists, 2 galleries

canceled south africa pavilion artist and curator appeal to president roland augustine steps down morning links for january 14 2025 1234769849

South Africa's government abruptly canceled its pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale, pulling the plug on artist Gabrielle Goliath's video installation "Elegy" just days before the deadline. The work, a ritual of mourning featuring seven women singers sustaining a single B note, was dedicated to victims of femicide and expanded to include references to Namibia and Gaza. Sports, Art, and Culture minister Gayton McKenzie deemed the Gaza section "divisive," prompting Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo to appeal directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the foreign ministry. Meanwhile, the Smithsonian Institution submitted photographs of wall labels and exhibition texts to the Trump Administration in response to a "content review" ultimatum, with Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III confirming compliance while asserting curatorial authority. Roland Augustine, cofounder of Luhring Augustine, announced he is stepping down to focus on philanthropy, marking a transition for the New York gallery.

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