Renowned Australian artist Mike Parr has recently parted ways with his longstanding representative, the Anna Schwartz Gallery in Melbourne. The termination of Parr's representation agreement came in the aftermath of a performance he staged referencing the Hamas attack on October 7 and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
On December 2, Parr executed the performance titled "Going Home" at Anna Schwartz Gallery, coinciding with his ongoing exhibition "Sunset Claws." In this performance, photographs captured by artist Zan Wimberley depict Parr painting words such as "Israel" and "Palestine" on a wall, subsequently covering them with maroon and black paint. The layered nature of the words makes it challenging to discern the complete phrases, but according to reports, Parr also included words like "apartheid" and "ethnic cleansing." Additionally, he wrote a controversial phrase referencing unverified reports from Israeli officials about the October 7 attack, accusing Hamas of grave actions.
The images of the performance were shared on Wimberley's social media, prompting a response from Anna Schwartz. While expressing her discomfort with the hate graffiti on the wall, Schwartz clarified that she did not intervene or censor Parr's exhibition, emphasizing her commitment to the artists represented by the gallery and citing this incident as the only breach of her anti-racism principles.
Parr, responding to the situation, condemned the actions of Hamas in Israel as reprehensible but underscored the significant civilian casualties in Gaza. He disavowed antisemitism and asserted that his dealer of 36 years comprehends the political nature of his performances.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported a high toll of casualties since the October 7 Hamas attack, with Israel conducting multiple airstrikes and a ground invasion in the following months. Despite Parr's continued listing on Anna Schwartz Gallery's roster, a notification on the gallery's website indicates that he is no longer represented by them.
Noteworthy for his contributions to the Australian art scene, Parr has participated in six editions of the Biennale of Sydney, including a notable 72-hour performance during the 2022 edition. In this performance, he engaged in meditation and fasting in the presence of a tree planted at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, drawing parallels to a piece by Joseph Beuys.