The first major show of Indian art “Deconstructing India” is planned for Spring 2012 in the new wing of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Israel.

We, the undersigned artists, who have been invited by the curators to participate in this show, have declined to exhibit our work, in solidarity with the International Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel called by Palestinian intellectuals and artists, and the India Campaign. The Boycott, inspired by the earlier successful international boycott against Apartheid South Africa, is a peaceful, non-violent Gandhian campaign, which is directed at mainstream institutions and not at individuals, to pressurize Israel to recognize the rights of the Palestine people.

The newly built Amir Wing of the Tel Aviv Museum designed by American architect Preston Scott Cohen is planned to be a showpiece for the discredited Israeli Government to increase its status and prestige internationally at a time when the country”s image is at its lowest ebb.

By declining to participate in this show, we refuse to legitimize the illegal racist and apartheid policies of the Israeli Government against the people of Palestine and to become a part of “Brand Israel”.

Signatures :

Nalini Malani
Anita Dube
Amar Kanwar
Sakshi Gupta
Pushpamala N

In solidarity with the Boycott:

Artists
Vivan Sundaram
Ayisha Abraham
Ram Rahman
Sharmila Samant
Sunil Gupta
Gauri Gill
Inder Salim
Vibha Galhotra
Vasudha Thozhur
Tushar Joag
Indrapramit Roy
Arunkumar HG
Shakuntala Kulkarni
Archana Hande
Monali Meher
Suresh Jayaram

Art Scholars
Geeta Kapoor
Ashish Rajadhyaksha
Chaitanya Sambrani
Kajri Jain
Nuzhat Kazmi
R. Nandakumar

Gallerists and Publishers
Bhavna Kakar
Bina Sarkar Ellias
Usha Mirchandani
M. Gauhar Iqbal