South Africa pulls out of Venice Biennale after Gaza artwork dispute

South Africa will not have a government-backed pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale after a court dismissed artist Gabrielle Goliath's lawsuit over a Gaza-focused artwork.

South Africa's culture ministry announced it will not host a government-backed pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale. The move follows a legal dispute over the ministry's choice of artist for the national pavilion. A court this week dismissed a lawsuit by artist Gabrielle Goliath that sought to compel the ministry to send her Gaza-focused artwork. Key facts: - The ministry said there will not be a South African-government-backed exhibition at this year's Venice Biennale. - A judge dismissed Gabrielle Goliath's lawsuit and ordered her to pay the minister's legal costs; the court's written reasons have not yet been published. - The ministry had explored alternative participants, including discussions with the collective Beyond the Frames, but ultimately decided against sending a pavilion. - Goliath has said she intends to appeal the ruling and is considering other possibilities to present the work in Venice or elsewhere. Summary: South Africa's absence means the country will not have an official national pavilion at this edition of the Biennale, a notable change after regular participation since 2011. The court dismissed the artist's suit but has not yet released its reasoning, and the artist has announced plans to appeal. Whether and how the work will appear in Venice remains undetermined at this time.