The arts festival in Tasmania has pulled plans to show the artist’s Union Jack flag drenched in the blood of Aboriginal people following a backlash
Dark Mofo festival in Hobart, Tasmania has cancelled Spanish artist Santiago Sierra’s plans to exhibit a British flag soaked in the blood of First Nations peoples – an artwork, titled Union Flag (2021), intended as an anti-colonialist gesture.
‘We made a mistake and take full responsibility,’ creative director Leigh Carmichael said. ‘We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry.’
The music and art festival director’s new statement was a U-turn from Carmichael’s previous position, defending Sierra’s ‘fundamental human right’ to self-expression.
The artist had invited people from former colonies of the British Empire to donate small amounts of blood for the artwork: ‘an acknowledgement of the pain and destruction colonialism has caused.’
But Sierra’s plans have been criticised by some as clumsy and exploitative. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s Nala Mansell told ABC News: ‘I understand the idea of blood on the flag, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to be calling for Aboriginal people to be donating blood when we have already had enough blood spilt as it is.’
