Artist Ruth Patir locked the doors of the Israeli Pavilion in the Venice Biennale on next Tuesday, the first preview day for the event that opens officially on April 20.

Ancient figurines in artist Ruth Patir’s work ‘Keening,’ on display at 60th Venice Biennale, due to open April 20, 2024 (Photo: Braverman Gallery Tel Aviv)

Patir was chosen to represent Israel in the Venice Biennale on September 6, 2023, and the main piece in her exhibition, “Keening”, was conceived of following the painful events of the Hamas onslaught on October 7 and the subsequent deadly war in Gaza. “The artist and curators of the Israeli pavilion will open the exhibition when a cease-fire and hostage release agreement is reached,” read the sign taped to the door of the pavilion by the Israeli team.

Patir, with her curators, Mira Lapidot and Tamar Margalit, said in a statement “It has been six months since the brutal attack on Israel on October 7 and the beginning of the horrific war that is raging in Gaza… there is no end in sight, only the promise of more pain, loss, and devastation. The exhibition is up and the pavilion is waiting to be opened. The art can wait, but the women, children and people living through hell cannot.”