Fury as Tate drops exhibit by anti-racist Jewish artist
Display, which was due to open at Tate Modern in London was pulled because it requires 'additional perspectives and voices 'to frame Philip Guston’s depictions of racism
The indefinite postponement of a major retrospective to honour the Jewish artist Philip Guston has sparked fury in the art world.
The exhibition, which was due to open at Tate Modern in London and tour art galleries in Washington, Houston and Boston, was cancelled because, according to the four galleries, it requires “additional perspectives and voices” to frame Guston’s depictions of racism.
The paintings, which feature Ku Klux Klan members going about their daily business wearing robes stained by the blood of their victims, were the artist’s way of presenting the banality of evil. Now, according to some critics of the decision, the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement has resulted in galleries postponing the exhibit as they want to wait until the “message of social and racial justice” at the centre of Guston’s work “can be more clearly interpreted”.
Canadian-born Guston, born Goldstein, often created work about racism and antisemitism. He died in 1980. His father, a Russian-Jewish blacksmith, fled the pogroms in Odessa but when he struggled to find enough work in the US to feed his seven children, he hanged himself. Philip, then 10, found his body.
Guston was traumatised by the antisemitism his father suffered and in his youth was an anti-racism activist, which is why the postponement has angered so many.
The Tate’s senior curator, Mark Godfrey, voiced his frustration, posting on Instagram that the decision “is actually extremely patronising to viewers, who are assumed not to be able to appreciate the nuance and politics of Guston’s works”.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
