Nan Goldin: Gaza is reminiscent of pogroms that her grandparents escaped from

The renowned photo artist Nan Goldin used her exhibition opening at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin to harshly criticize Israel. Her exhibition has nothing to do with the topic. Because loud activists agreed with her and then shouted down a counter-speech from the director of the National Gallery, Klaus Biesenbach, there was a scandal.

Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) and Berlin’s Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (CDU) called Goldin’s statements unbearably one-sided. And they were outraged by the loud protests of the pro-Palestinian activists. Of course Nan Goldin couldn’t do anything about it.

The 71-year-old American Nan Goldin is one of the most renowned artists in contemporary photography. The Neue Nationalgalerie is currently devoting a retrospective to her. Goldin’s exhibition itself has nothing to do with the Middle East conflict.

Goldin began her nearly 14-minute speech with a four-minute silence to remember the deaths in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and also Israel. In the speech, she said: “I have decided to use this exhibition as a platform to express my moral outrage at the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Germany is home to the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe. “Yet protests are being fought with police dogs,” she said.

“Are you afraid to hear this, Germany? This is a war against children,” Goldin said. She comes from a Jewish family herself. “My grandparents escaped the pogroms in Russia. I grew up knowing about the Nazi Holocaust. What I see in Gaza reminds me of the pogroms my grandparents escaped from.”

Goldin also said: “The entire infrastructure of Palestine has been destroyed. The hospitals, the schools, the universities, the libraries. It is also a cultural genocide. Why can’t you see that, Germany?”

Goldin’s speech was applauded by parts of the audience. Museum director Biesenbach wanted to reply, but could hardly be heard because of the chanting activists. Among other things, they chanted for the “freedom of Palestine”. When the situation calmed down, Biesenbach read the speech again.

“Our work is based on fundamental values ​​that cannot be negated,” he said. “For us, Israel’s right to exist is beyond question. Hamas’s attack on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023 was a cruel act of terror that cannot be justified by anything.” He added: “At the same time, we sympathize with the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, whose suffering cannot be overlooked.”

Minister of State for Culture Roth said: “I am horrified at how the director of the Neue Nationalgalerie was shouted down.” That is absolutely unacceptable. Goldin’s artistic work is meritorious. But she rejects “the political activist’s unbearably one-sided views on Israel,” emphasized the Green politician.

Berlin’s Senator for Culture Chialo also said: “I do not share Nan Goldin’s position and find her statements to be hardly acceptable. In our city of Berlin, where the Holocaust was planned and which now stands for freedom, such a one-sidedness that forgets history is unacceptable.” The aggressive audience showed a lack of willingness for peaceful dialogue. “We will not give in to these radical statements,” said Chialo.

Goldin’s major retrospective entitled “This Will Not End Well” can be seen at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin until April 6, 2025. The exhibition shows Goldin’s life’s work with slide shows and films, accompanied by pieces of music and soundtracks. An accompanying symposium is planned for Sunday. Roth emphasized that she rejects calls for a boycott of this event. She hopes for an open and civilized debate.