#gulf labor

[hyperallergic]

Yesterday the Gulf Labor Coalition, which is an official participant of the central exhibition of the 2015 Venice Biennale, and the G.U.L.F. (Global Ultra Luxury Faction) group staged a variety of protest actions at the international exhibition. From the stenciling of “Handala” on Gulf Labor’s official banner hanging inside the Arsenale exhibition hall to the hourlong occupation of the second floor of the Israeli Pavilion, the two groups focused on migrant rights and Palestinian solidarity during the day’s activities.

G.U.L.F. Occupies Israeli Pavilion in Venice, Calls for Cultural Boycott

[hyperallergic]

VENICE — On Wednesday the Gulf Labor Coalition held the first in a series of four panels it is organizing as part of the 2015 Venice Biennale. Held in the Arena of the Biennale’s Central Pavilion, the first conference was attended by about 60 people, a mix of journalists, activists, and Biennale visitors. Artists Walid Raad and Shaina Anand opened the session by presenting the history and the activities of the Coalition, as well as addressing the situation of migrant workers employed at the building sites of the Guggenheim and the Louvre museum outposts on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Some of the most visible aspects of the problems facing migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are overwork and the lack of safe conditions, which often leads to accidents, some of which can be fatal — like a recent death at the Louvre Abu Dhabi site.

Gulf Labor Hips Venice Biennale Visitors to UAE Labor Abuses

[hyperallergic]

The Agence France-Muséums (AFM) has confirmed reports, brought to light recently by the activist and artist group Gulf Labor, that a 28-year-old Pakistani worker died on June 8 at the construction site of the new Louvre museum on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. Though the circumstances of the worker’s death have not been revealed, Ugo Bertoni, a spokesperson for AFM, told Artinfo’s Mostafa Heddaya that the organization “has immediately questioned TDIC [the Tourism Development and Investment Company, which is overseeing construction on the island] and has been regularly updated about the conditions of this accident and its following developments.” The findings of an investigation by United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities and local police will be released at the end of July.

French Museum Authority Confirms Worker Death at Louvre Abu Dhabi Site

[hyperallergic]

As Third Member Is Refused Entry to UAE, Gulf Labor Renews Pressure on Guggenheim

[hyperallergic]

Today, Hyperallergic spoke to artist Walid Raad, who informed us that three days ago he was denied entry to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as he tried to attend the Sharjah Art Foundation‘s March Meetings.

Artist Walid Raad Denied Entry into UAE, Becoming Third Gulf Labor Member Turned Away

[hyperallergic]

VENICE — Friday’s three-hour occupation of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (PGC) in Venice by arts and activist organizations, including Gulf Labor, GULF (Gulf Ultra Luxury Faction), Sale Docks, and Macao, resulted in a brief meeting between a number of protesters and members of the PGC staff. Hyperallergic was the only arts publication live at the scene when the protesters emerged from the talks and recorded their thoughts on the discussion.

The Guggenheim and Protesters Both Respond to #GuggOccupied in Venice

[hyperallergic]

VENICE — At 10:20am this morning, two boatloads of artists and activists occupied the dock landing of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (PGC) in Venice. It marks the first joint action between GULF (Gulf Ultra Luxury Faction) and Gulf Labor, which is an official participant in the 2015 Venice Biennale, and two Italian organizations, Sale Docks in Venice and Macao from Milan — an independent art space which started organizing art workers in 2012. The crowd of roughly 40 people are hoisting banners and flags that read, “Meet Workers’ Demands” and other labor-related messages. The museum occupation is the latest effort to highlight labor issues impacting migrant workers at Saadiyat Island, where Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and other luxury culture brands are building outposts.

Gulf Labor and Other Arts Groups Occupy Venice’s Guggenheim #GuggOccupied

[orbooks]

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