Khaled Sabsabi has opened his exhibition 'conference of one’s self' at the Australian Pavilion of the 61st Venice Biennale, alongside a second installation 'Khalil' in the Arsenale. This follows a tumultuous period in which Creative Australia rescinded his appointment as Australia’s representative in February 2025, sparking widespread backlash from the art community. After being reappointed in July 2025, Sabsabi presents two monumental multimedia works inspired by Sufi practice, created in Bangkok and described as 'one body with two limbs'.
The controversy matters because it became a flashpoint for debates about artistic freedom and political interference in arts funding. The rescinding of Sabsabi’s appointment—and the subsequent public outcry—highlighted the power of the art sector to defend its values. Sabsabi’s dual presence at both the Pavilion and the Arsenale, a rare feat in the Biennale’s history, underscores his resilience and the significance of his work on the global stage.