Russian artists Pomidor, by Maria and Polina, had their art exhibition canceled on its opening day by Metamorphika studio in London this week. It was cancelled because Maria, a Jew living in Israel, expressed grief over those murdered and kidnapped on October 7th in two Instagram posts shortly after the attack. Pomidor’s exhibit, titled “Even Elephants Hold Elections,” confronts Russia’s suppression and injustice and has no connection to Israel. However, the studio justified their cancellation by saying she didn’t discuss Palestinians. Their focus was Russia. Jews don’t owe you a commentary on the war whenever you demand it. Canceling a Jewish artist because her artwork isn’t about the conflict and she expressed sympathy for those murdered on October 7th is blatant antisemitism.
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