Pro-Palestinian artists, groups gain major victory against Israeli apartheid in Manchester

The Cloud Studies exhibition at Manchester University’s Whitworth Gallery features work based on forensic investigations into how clouds carry evidence of “weaponisation” of the air, including the use of chemical weapons, tear gas, bombing and other methods used by states to suppress and subjugate people.

Staged by the Forensic Architecture group, it examines conflicts in Chile, Indonesia, Louisiana, England, Beirut, Syria, Papua and Palestine.

The exhibition includes a statement from the artists criticising Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians and ethnic cleansing, and supporting Palestine.

However, the statement was removed by the gallery after objections from pro-zionist groups, and the artists had shut down the exhibition in response.

Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said that supporters of Palestine subsequently lobbied the gallery and university in their thousands.

A demonstration was staged outside the gallery on Wednesday, supported by Oldham Peace and Justice Campaign, Manchester PSC, Palestine Action, Jewish pro-Palestine organisations and the artists themselves, among others.

Today the exhibition reopened — with the censored statement included.

John Nicholson of Manchester PSC said: “This is a massive victory for all those supporters of Palestine – Palestinian, Jewish and otherwise – who have lobbied in their thousands for the university to reverse its scandalous and cowardly decision to take down the statement by all the artists supporting Palestine.

“This is a victory for the freedom of expression of the artists, for the exposure of the racist and warmongering actions of apartheid Israel, and for Palestine.”

Whitworth Gallery said in a statement: “The exhibition, and particularly a written statement by the artists displayed at its entrance, has led to some serious concern from a number of people and organisations, including local community groups.

“Having considered these issues carefully with various stakeholders, we concluded last night that it is important for the exhibition to remain open in full at the Whitworth.

“The university, as a non-political organisation, has tried to balance extremely complex issues raised by the exhibition, but we believe that the worst outcome for all parties concerned would have been to close this exhibition for an extended period of time.”