The Royal Academy Art (RA) has faced criticism over its Summer Exhibition which include pieces featuring a swastika looming over screaming Gaza women and a faceless Jewish pilot against a backdrop of bodybags.
The Board of Deputies has expressed “significant concern” over three artworks and has demanded that the RA reconsider its display.
One work, titled “The Mass Slaughter of Defenceless Women & Children Is Not How You Deradicalise Gaza” by Michael Sandle, features a faceless pilot in an aircraft with a Star of David symbol front and centre against a backdrop of body bags. It is listed on the RA website for sale at £17,000.
Michael Sandle’s artwork is called “THE MASS SLAUGHTER OF DEFENCELESS WOMEN & CHILDREN IS NOT HOW YOU DERADICALISE GAZA” (Photo: RA)
Another piece called “Conflict”, produced by a 16-year-old artist named Andy and displayed in the RA’s Young Artists’ Summer Show, uses a swastika as a symbol for an Israel that looms large over women huddled together and screaming. The Nazi symbol hangs in mid-air underneath a large Buddha.
The artist said: “Watching the conflict unravel in Gaza draws many parallels with the Nazis’ and Chinese oppression, hence the Buddha symbol and the swastika.”
According to the caption, Andy “created this piece of work inspired by the recent conflict in Gaza”.
A third piece by an 18-year-old named Kausar also in in the Young Artists’ show depicts an individual hiding behind a sign reading “Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in Our Name”.
A photographic piece by Kausar, 18, titled “Not in Our Name”
The Board of Deputies has questioned the gallery’s “judgement” in allowing these works into the show. The BoD condemned hanging the works, “with no attempt to present any context or contextualising works which might express a contrary view.”
“It risks giving the impression that the RA is taking a political stance on a very controversial issue, which would seem at odds with its objectives, not to mention its charitable status,” the BoD said.
In a piece titled ‘Conflict’ by Andy, 16, the teenage artist depicts a large Buddha with a swastika over the heads of three screaming women. The artist said in his caption: “Watching the conflict unravel in Gaza draws many parallels with the Nazi’s and Chinese oppression, hence the Buddha symbol and the swastika.”
In a letter to the chief executive of the RA, Axel Rüger, the vice president of the BoD, Andrew Gilbert, said: “while we are sure this was not the intention of the artists, some imagery and content relating to works mentioned above comprise antisemitic tropes and messaging as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.”
One parent whose son’s artwork is featured in the Young Artists’ Summer Show told the JC that he no longer feels comfortable taking his son to the RA: “He was so excited to win a place in the gallery and can’t wait to see it on display. But I am put off taking him as I don’t want him to see it knowing that he will also come face to face with images of Jewish hate for him.
“I’m already scared to allow my children to let others know they are Jewish. And seeing antisemitism so blatantly ignored and instead rewarded and put on display in such a respectable and highly regarded British institution, makes me worry about their future,” the father said.
The RA was contacted for comment.
