Photographer Nan Goldin Discusses Israel's Conflict in Gaza at Arles Discourse, Questioning, 'Whose Lives Hold Importance?'
## Nan Goldin Takes a Stance on the Israel-Palestine Conflict at Rencontres d'Arles
Nan Goldin, a renowned American photographer and activist, has made a bold and contentious statement regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict during a talk at the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival in France.
During the discussion, Goldin, who identifies as Jewish, expressed her concern over the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism. She stated that this conflation has been used to silence legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's actions, particularly in Gaza, and has inadvertently enabled the rise of actual antisemitism.
Goldin described the ongoing violence in Gaza as the "first live-streamed genocide," highlighting the devastation caused by the conflict and urging international attention and action. She reportedly told the audience that "75,000 Palestinians have been killed," a figure that she stated now.
The talk, held at the Théâtre Antique on Tuesday, was attended by Édouard Louis, an acclaimed French novelist. Louis read a statement about the conflict during the talk and expressed his agreement with Goldin's sentiments, stating, "Our own field has betrayed us."
The discussion between Goldin and Louis was not without controversy. During the talk, an audience member shouted, "It's not true." A video of the talk was posted to Instagram by Édouard Louis, which has since generated a significant amount of discussion online.
Goldin's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict is part of a broader wave of cultural and academic figures speaking out against Israeli military actions in Gaza. Last year, she stated at the Neue Nationalgalerie that the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN, and the Pope are discussing genocide regarding Israel's actions.
Goldin specifically addressed the situation in Germany last year, where pro-Palestine artists have described facing censorship. She asked, "Are you afraid to hear this, Germany?" in reference to discussing the situation as genocide.
Goldin's interventions at Rencontres d'Arles sparked heated exchanges with pro-Israeli spectators, underscoring the divisiveness of her stance in cultural and political circles. Her remarks were not solely academic or artistic but actively sought to mobilize public opinion against what she views as a humanitarian catastrophe enabled by international complacency.
This year, Goldin received Kering's Women in Motion award for her work in photography and activism. Her willingness to use her platform at a major international arts event to address geopolitical issues marks a rare and politically charged intervention in a space typically reserved for aesthetic discourse.
### Summary Table
| Aspect | Goldin’s Position | |-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Anti-Zionism | Distinguishes from antisemitism; critiques weaponization to silence dissent against Israeli policy[1] | | Antisemitism | Warns that conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism endangers Jewish communities[1] | | Gaza Conflict | Calls it a “live-streamed genocide”; cites high Palestinian casualties; demands global attention[1][2][5] | | Public Engagement | Uses art platforms to provoke debate, faces backlash from pro-Israel attendees[4] | | Awards | Received Kering's Women in Motion award this year[6] |
- Nan Goldin, an acclaimed artist and activist, has used her platform at the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival to speak out against the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism, particularly in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
- During her talk, Goldin, who identifies as Jewish, stated that this conflation has been used to silence legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's actions, and has inadvertently enabled the rise of actual antisemitism.
- Goldin has been vocal about the ongoing violence in Gaza, describing it as the "first live-streamed genocide," and urging international attention and action, citing a reported 75,000 Palestinian casualties.
- Goldin's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict has sparked heated exchanges with pro-Israeli spectators, and she has used her award-winning work in photography and activism to provoke debate and mobilize public opinion against what she views as a humanitarian catastrophe.
- Goldin's interventions in art world discussions on war-and-conflicts, politics, and pop-culture, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict and Germany's pro-Palestine artists facing censorship, align with her broader stance against Israeli military actions in Gaza.
