Artwrite

By Yuanyuan Wang

In the Sharjah Biennial 2011, a work made by an Algerian artist, Mustapha Benfodil, featured Arabic phrases printed on mannequins’ shirts. Graffiti in Arabic characters was also painted on the walls around the mannequins, which were arranged in a courtyard near an important mosque in an area known as the Sharjah Heritage District. As a consequence, officials of the Sharjah Biennial announced that Jack Persekian, the Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, was to be fired on orders from Sheik Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi. There were also numerous complaints from the public about the displaying of an artwork in a public square that included sexually explicit Arabic slogans and poetry, some making reference to Allah. In response to this, the Sharjah Art Foundation claimed that Mr Persekian’s job was ‘no longer tenable’ as a result of ‘the public outcry over the work.’ The statement added that the work was to be removed from the biennial ‘because leaving it on view was too risky from a legal and cultural standpoint.’

Kennedy, R. Sharjah Biennial, Director Fired Over Artwork Deemed Offensive, 2011. Arts Beat. <http://artsbeat.blogs.ny-times.com/2011/04107/sharjah-biennial-director-fired-over-offensive-artwork/>