News: Controversial Candice Breitz exhibition canceled in Germany
Candice Breitz, a South African Jewish artist living in Berlin, is known for her artistic and intellectual commitment. Unfortunately, its exhibition planned for three years was abruptly canceled last month by a German museum, following allegations relayed by the German press. Charles Leonard was able to speak with her on this subject.
Could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Candice Breitz. I grew up in Johannesburg and have been based in Berlin since 2002. I try to spend a few months in South Africa every year, but most of the artistic opportunities that come my way are outside the country.
Your exhibition has been canceled. Can you tell us more about this?
The exhibition was to take place at the Saarlandmuseum in Saarbrücken, Germany in April. The project was to present a 13-channel video installation entitled “TLDR” (2017). This work is the result of a series of interviews and workshops with members of Sweat (Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce), a community of sex workers and activists based in Cape Town.
I met several members of Sweat in December 2016, when I joined the community to protest an exhibition called “Our Lady” at the Iziko South African National Gallery. This exhibition included a work by Zwelethu Mthethwa, an artist who was then on trial for the violent murder of Nokuphila Kumalo, a young sex worker.
“TLDR” highlights the international fight of sex workers for their human rights, destigmatization and decriminalization of their work. It also takes a critical look at how the “good intentions” of white saviors often obstruct pathways to real political transformation.
Why this cancellation?
This is a complex question to answer. On November 24, I received a call from the museum director announcing that she would “probably be forced to cancel the exhibition” that we had been working on for three years. Given the current climate in Germany, I immediately assumed that this cancellation was related to the opinions I expressed on the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, I later learned that the exhibition was actually canceled before a conversation with me even took place. More than a month after this cancellation, I have still not received anything in writing from the museum, nor even had the opportunity to express my point of view. I am forced to follow my own trial through the stories in the press.
Were you able to understand more clearly the reasons for this cancellation?
Shortly after the cancellation was announced, there were rumors that I “may have signed a letter in support of BDS.”. In Germany, BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) is considered an anti-Semitic movement. The mere suggestion of my proximity to BDS can destroy my ability to earn a living.
In a statement later published in a local newspaper, the museum explained that I was censored because I “did not sufficiently condemn Hamas.” This judgment was issued in response to German press articles which aggressively accused me of having participated in a Jewish demonstration which took place in Berlin on November 10. This protest was a space for mourners in Israel, but it also criticized the Israeli government’s disproportionate and inhumane bombardment of civilians in Gaza.
Was this enough to cancel the exhibition?
In fact, I have repeatedly and unequivocally condemned Hamas in various public contexts, including on my public Instagram account. This is probably why the museum had to press the charges against me.
The museum representatives then claimed that the problem was not only that I had not sufficiently condemned Hamas, but also that I had not sufficiently called the October 7 attacks a “Zivilisationsbruch” (breakdown of civilization). . In the German context, the term “Zivilisationsbruch” is used by scholars in reference to the Holocaust. In essence, the museum now argues that it cannot display my work because I did not explicitly equate the Holocaust with the October 7 attacks. Demanding such equivalence as a condition for exhibiting my work amounts to asking me to put the Shoah into perspective.
How do you feel about this situation?
Should I point out the absurdity of the situation where Germans are dictating to Jews how they should express their reactions to the brutal massacre of other Jews?
Should we demand that Jews prove to Germans that they have a duty to take a stand against Holocaust-like brutality?