In a stark observation, Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Educational Center, has weighed in on the cultural scene's moral downfall, linking it to the ongoing conflict in the international art world. This divisive discourse surrounding anti-Semitism, Israel, and the Middle East conflict has further intensified, according to Mendel, who spoke to the German Press Agency.
Since October 7, a significant portion of the cultural scene has reportedly fallen short morally, with only a handful of institutions voicing their empathy for the victims. Mendel criticizes the more worrying phenomenon of one-sided support for the Palestinians, often disregarding or even condoning the violence perpetrated by Hamas. This one-sidedness was evident in an open letter signed by 8,000 artists published in the art magazine "Artforum."
Mendel attributes this trend to a left-wing cultural scene, influenced by a simplified interpretation of post-colonial theories. According to him, Israel is often viewed as an extension of Western colonialism and imperialism. The fact that Jewish people reside in the Middle East is regarded as a colonial project. This narrative frequently assumes that Israel can only be evil, even when terrorists commit atrocities such as massacring, raping, and taking hostages of over a thousand Israeli civilians.
Cultural practitioners who do not align with this interpretation face a predicament. They are often dependent on the international art market and thus hesitant to adopt a nuanced stance. This was evident last week when the search committee for the artistic director of the upcoming documenta was dismantled.
Meron Mendel's critique underscores the ongoing debates in the international art world, where discussions about anti-Semitism, Israel, and the Middle East conflict continue to shape the discourse. This divisive discourse has also resulted in a significant moral failure within the cultural scene, with only a few institutions expressing sympathy for the victims since October 7.
