Thanet District Council has been compelled to issue a public apology after promoting a contentious art exhibition on its tourism website that was accused of displaying antisemitic imagery, including a shocking depiction described as 'Jews eating babies'. The council swiftly removed the listing for the Margate-based show, titled 'Drawings Against Genocide', from its Visit Thanet platform following an influx of complaints, explicitly distancing itself from the event and admitting the promotion should never have occurred.
Council Statement and Immediate Action
In an official statement, the authority clarified its position: 'Visit Thanet lists many events, activities and exhibitions on its website. Once the council was contacted regarding the nature of the content, the link to this exhibition was removed.' The council emphasised it is not affiliated with the gallery or this exhibition and apologised sincerely for any distress or offence caused. This response came after campaigners and visitors raised alarms about the exhibition's disturbing content, which ties into the Israel-Gaza conflict and includes illustrations that critics argue perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Controversial Imagery and Public Outcry
Among the most controversial pieces is an illustration depicting two auctioneers linked to Sotheby's, owned by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, shown devouring babies with blood dripping from their mouths. Campaigners, including Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism, condemned this work, stating it portrays Jewish people 'as blood-soaked, baby-eating demons', drawing on deeply offensive antisemitic tropes. Another artwork features Labour MP Lisa Nandy alongside cash and an Israeli flag, with speech bubbles declaring: 'I am a Zionist' and 'I am paid by Israel'.
Additional images in the exhibition include an Israeli soldier standing over blood and human remains, figures holding a blood-soaked Star of David flag, and Nazi imagery. Reports indicate some attendees wore T-shirts bearing the slogan 'globalise the intifada', often interpreted as endorsing violence against Jews. A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism labelled the works 'grotesque', asserting, 'This isn't art but incitement, drawing on classic tropes.'
Artist's Defence and Public Confrontation
The artist, Matthew Collings, 70, has strongly denied accusations of antisemitism, insisting his work criticises Zionism rather than targeting Jews. He argued, 'nothing in the drawing says 'Jews' or claims Jews eat babies', and explained it 'makes a comment that the owner of Sotheby's is a Zionist' with the message that 'Zionism is a brutal ideology'. However, the row escalated when Jewish writer Zoe Strimpel visited the gallery and claimed she was driven out after a confrontation with Collings.
Strimpel described feeling shaken, alleging the artist became instantly aggressive when she challenged the imagery, yelling that she was repeating 'hasbarah talking points' and defending a genocide. She recounted the crowd booing and closing in on her, leading her to say, 'fine, get the Jew out'. Collings later dismissed the backlash online as 'Zionist nonsense', stating another attendee had said, 'I'm a Jew and I don't feel unsafe'.
Widespread Condemnation and Police Response
Strimpel's account quickly garnered widespread support online, with high-profile figures like actress Tracy-Ann Oberman and MP Michael Gove condemning the exhibition as 'disgusting' and 'truly terrible'. Others echoed this outrage, with comments labelling the display 'vile' and 'racist'. Despite the controversy, Kent Police investigated the incident after a report was made on March 21, 2026, but concluded no criminal offences had been identified, noting the artwork was deemed offensive but not illegal.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions around artistic expression, antisemitism, and political commentary, raising questions about council responsibilities in promoting local events and the fine line between criticism and hate speech in public discourse.
