A Tauranga art gallery showcasing Palestinian artists in an exhibition, From the River to the Sea, was told to remove material from its window by its real estate agent, who says there should be “no political stuff in the tenancy”.
A spokesperson for the real estate agency, which had leased the building to the gallery, says the request followed a complaint from a member of the public.
“It wasn’t a stance on the exhibition. It was just a request to remove it from the windows as it was very prominent and had led to a complaint," says a spokesperson for the real estate agency.
"We are strong supporters of art, and this was merely a request to keep the images off the windows and inside the tenancy."
Māori art gallery Kūwao.Space is staging a show called From the River To The Sea, which features calligrapher Belal Khaled, who grew up in Gaza, and Palestinian graphic artist Monna Jabali.
The exhibition is set to run until January 6.
The title of the exhibition, From the River to the Sea, is highly controversial, and its significance disputed.
It has been called anti-Semitic by some including the New Zealand Jewish Council.
In the UK, the centre-left Labour Party suspended its MP, Andy McDonald, recently after he says the words “between the river and the sea” at a pro-Palestine rally.
The UK Labour Party called his comment “deeply offensive”.
Others disagree and say it highlights that Palestinians were removed from their homeland and have not received equal rights in Israel.
This is the stance of Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick who used it this month at a rally.
The gallery owners say there was no mention of politics in their rental agreement, that they had previously had several exhibitions about indigenous or marginalised peoples, that the gallery is “a safe space for all”, and that “all art is political”.
Other exhibitions have celebrated Māori, Matariki, indigenous art, decolonising sexuality, water pollution and South Asian women.
“Decolonisation is our baseline, and everything we do within the space, including use of Te Reo Māori or supporting our queer community, is politically motivated.
"Therefore, we cannot imagine a space that contains no political material. We welcome all people,” owner Sian Evans told Stuff.
The day after it opened, gallery co-owner Evans received a text from the real estate agent who they lease the property from.
“Sian, no political stuff in the tenancy. Please urgently remove all window posters and any political items from the tenancy. Confirm back when this is going to be done. We are also looking at having the tenancy returned to vacant for viewing purposes,” the text read.
Evans says in the window was information about the exhibition and artists, poems and messages of support.
“There was nothing abusive or hateful or anything that I could even think would be offensive at all.”
After texts from the agent asking her if she had removed it to the point she felt “harassed”, she agreed to remove everything out of the window.
The agent told Stuff that they had received only one complaint from a member of the public.
She had not spoken to the owner of the property.
The real estate agency spokesperson says that the staff member had identified a risk after the complaint.
“We act for the landlord, and as such have authority to make decisions that we think are in the interests of protecting their premises.”
With Tauranga CBD known for it’s empty stores and For Lease signs, some businesses are being offered cheaper rentals.
“The agent was happy with this agreement before – and with us, and says it was only when someone had signed up to pay [the] full rate that we would be given notice,” the gallery owners told Stuff.
The real estate agency says it would meet with the gallery owners this week to go over their concerns.
“Had the tenant come to us with issue or objection we would have met with them to discuss in more detail and ideally resolve it.
"We did not mean to cause them any stress, and it was not directed at the exhibition or any of the art, only the placement of it on the windows, being moved inside the tenancy.”
The gallery has had an offer from an Auckland gallery to hold the exhibition, as well as other galleries around the country.
“It’s not about the tenancy – as we always knew that it was temporary until a permanent tenant is found... It’s about standing up against injustice and suppression, against people misusing their power to silence people.
It’s heartbreaking, but the support we’ve had from around New Zealand has been amazing.”
5 comments
Safe Space for All?
Posted on 28-11-2023 12:42 | By Jules L
The gallery owner says that the gallery is a safe space for all and then runs an exhibition in which the title calls for the genocide of an entire race. That's not at all safe. Just because the green party of New Zealand also calls for genocide does not make it alright.
Keep politics out of Art.
Posted on 28-11-2023 12:58 | By morepork
Sometimes Art can be a valid way to draw attention to injustice and oppression. But the politics behind it must not be allowed to override the appreciation of the ART. We have a country here that has always stood for fairness and the right to a "fair go". We have allowed people to immigrate, on the implicit understanding that they recognize our culture and values and do NOT bring their problems with them. People come here seeking a better life; it won't BE better if the old behaviours are continued. Have an opinion, support the folks back home, but leave your politics there. One person made a complaint and considered the exhibition anti-semitic. That's a pity (I'm not minimizing anti-semitism) but for an exhibition to be affected by this, is really quite serious. I believe the Gallery has over-reacted.
From the River to the Sea.
Posted on 28-11-2023 13:10 | By morepork
I can't imagine ANYBODY condoning what is happening in Gaza, even if you fiercely support Israel. (I have many Jewish friends...) As in Ukraine, we hate to see pictures of people being killed and dispossessed, and the political motivations and military aspirations behind it MUST be subject to the Humanity. As soon as it isn't, we are lost as a population of this planet. Do you really want to live in a country where a phrase such as: "From the River to the Sea" is seen as politically provocative? What next? You can't say: "Israel" or "Gaza" or "Ukraine" without offending someone? This is the PCWoke legacy; Nanny doesn't want anyone to be offended. Grow up. You cannot live a normal life in the modern world WITHOUT being offended. How you feel is a matter for YOU, and not for the Courts. Deal with it; let it go.
@morepork
Posted on 28-11-2023 15:42 | By Jules L
@morepork, you do seem a little confused. You say that immigrants should leave their problems behind when they come here, which I agree with entirely. But then you say that they should be allowed to freely bring their hatred here and sing it in our streets. Just for clarity, the saying "from the river to the sea" is an abbreviation, the full saying is to "exterminate the jews from the river (Jordan) to the (Mediterranean) sea", i.e the entirety of Israel. When it was used in a protest in Sydney recently, it was accompanied with chants of "Gas the jews", and "kill the jews". We have laws in New Zealand that ban the incitement of violence, and this is incitement to genocide, it is illegal.
@Jules L.
Posted on 29-11-2023 17:40 | By morepork
I can't find anywhere in my post where I suggested that ANYBODY should "sing hatred in the streets". It is not a policy I would endorse. I wasn't aware of what you claim is the "full" extent of the expression: "From the River to the Sea"; thanks for that information. I note that the person using it in this instance did NOT quote your full version, which most people would find offensive. As for behaviour in Sydney, I believe that most NZers do not feel compelled to emulate what happens in that city (or even that COUNTRY). It doesn't require a Law against incitement for most of us to recognize stupidity when we hear it. Unfortunately, there are always idiots who become persuaded or manipulated without thinking a position through. Rest assured, I won't be advocating anti-semitism, but I'll leave my politics outside when looking at Art.
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