A PROTEST FOR PALESTINE: THE NATIONAL GALLERY (SMK)

Artists and cultural workers in support of Palestine and against the current political censorship in the arts. On sunday, February 11, an intervention took place, where artists and cultural workers ate watermelon in silence in front of the National Gallery (SMK) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The museum unexpectedly closed its entrance to the public as the protesters arrived. The protestors distributed pamphlets calling for Denmark to stop the export of arms to Israel, which is in breach of both the UN Arms Trade Treaty and the EU's common position on Arms Exports.

Protestors also called for all Danish art institutions to break the silence surrounding the extensive censorship and cancellation of artists and cultural workers who express support for Palestine.

Photo: JLSchou.

Photo: JLSchou.

The distributed pamphlets (see english translation below*).

Photo: JLSchou.

Photo: JLSchou.

*Text from the Pamphlet (english translation):

The Danish government ignores the massive protests that have taken place in Copenhagen, so we must resort to new forms of expression in order to be heard.

This is an artistic action against Denmark's support for Israel's genocide of the civilian population in Gaza and censorship of art and cultural workers!

Right now more than 30.000 civilians have been killed in Gaza, 90% of Gaza's population is homeless, all hospitals have been bombed and over 2 million Palestinians are in a life-threatening famine because Israel is denying access to humanitarian aid. Denmark continues to support Israel in the "right to defend itself", despite the fact that the state is currently being accused of genocide in the UN International Court of Justice. Denmark continues to export weapons to Israel, which is in violation of both the UN Arms Trade Treaty and the EU Joint Declaration on Arms Exports.

We demand that Denmark stop supporting Israel, because they stand accused of genocide in the UN International Court of Justice.

All over the world and especially in the USA and Germany, artists and cultural workers are being fired and canceled for having legitimate humanitarian/political positions on the situation in Gaza.

The censorship of artists and cultural workers is deeply worrying. These cultural workers stand alone when their professional qualifications are cancelled over their humanitarian/political beliefs, which they have the right to exercise. The culture of silence must be broken before this type of censorship becomes normalized. The Danish art scene exhibits deafening silence and a lack of support for the Danish and international art and cultural workers. They have been fired, had their works destroyed and lost exhibitions, teaching positions, grants and more.

We demand that the Danish art institutions break their silence about the political censorship of culture. We demand that they stand up for all the arts and culture workers who have been fired and canceled on the basis of their opinions.

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