South African artist Gabrielle Goliath's performance piece, Elegy, which was blocked from representing the country at the upcoming Venice Biennale due to its tribute to a Palestinian poet, will still be exhibited at the world's largest art exhibition. The work will be shown as a video installation at the Chiesa di Sant'Antonin church in the Castello district, a venue near the main Biennale site but not part of the official event, running for three months from 4 May.
Controversy Over 'Highly Divisive' Tribute
Elegy was banned from the South African pavilion after culture minister Gayton McKenzie deemed it "highly divisive" and related to an ongoing international conflict. McKenzie, a former businessman and founder of the rightwing Patriotic Alliance, was appointed minister in 2024 when his party joined an ANC-led government of national unity. In a letter dated 22 December 2025, he argued the subject matter was polarising, despite South Africa's previous government having accused Israel of genocide in Gaza in a 2023 lawsuit.
Artist's Response and Legal Battles
Goliath stated that showing her work in Venice is crucial because its cancellation sets "a dangerous precedent", stemming solely from McKenzie's objections and her refusal to alter the piece. Last month, she failed to overturn the government's decision in court, with a high court judge dismissing her application just hours before the Biennale's submission deadline. Artists supporting Goliath and her curator Ingrid Masondo are continuing to appeal, criticising the court's order for them to pay costs as "highly irregular".
Details of the Performance Piece
Elegy, first conceived in 2015 as a ritual of mourning for women killed in acts of sexualised or racialised violence, commemorates murdered South African student Ipeleng Christine Moholane. The non-verbal performance features seven operatically trained female performers on screen, each holding a single high note as long as possible before being replaced by another singer. In the Venice installation, it also honours two Nama women killed by German colonial forces in the early 20th century and Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, who died aged 32 in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, in October 2023.
Artistic and Political Context
The work includes a ghazal, an ancient Arabic ode, paying tribute to Abu Nada's poem I Grant You Refuge, written 10 days before her death. While the war in Gaza is not directly thematised in the artwork, a curatorial statement by Goliath references "a spectre of genocide" and discusses "thousands of women, children and civilians killed in Gaza". Goliath emphasised that the divisiveness stems from grieving Palestinian lives, not specific language in the piece.
Impact on South Africa's Pavilion and Biennale Overview
As a result of the cancellation, the South African pavilion will remain empty, with the government declining to nominate a replacement. The Venice Biennale's main exhibition, opening on 9 May, features works chosen by a central curator and national pavilions organised by governments. This year's edition, entitled "In Minor Keys", is being realised by collaborators of Swiss-Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, who died suddenly last May after becoming the first African woman to head the Biennale. In the official section, 111 artists will represent 99 participating nations, up from 84 in 2024.
Goliath's show at Chiesa di Sant'Antonin is staged in partnership with London arts centre Ibraaz, which will host Elegy in October, ensuring the artwork reaches audiences despite governmental opposition.
