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Laurie Anderson, artist from USA.
© Urs Flueeler/KEYSTONE/dpa
The renowned US performance artist Laurie Anderson (76) is giving up the Pina Bausch Professorship at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen.
It became known that Anderson had publicly positioned himself in 2021 as a supporter of a call by Palestinian artists entitled “Letter Against Apartheid,” which, among other things, addressed boycott demands from the anti-Israel BDS movement, the university said on Friday with.
Essen - Against the background of the now public question about her political stance, Laurie Anderson finally decided to withdraw from the visiting professorship.
“For me, the question is not whether my political views have changed.
The real question is: “Why is this question even being asked?” Anderson was quoted as saying in a university press release.
Therefore, she is withdrawing from the project.
Together with the university and the Pina Bausch Foundation, “we decided together that this was the best way forward.”
The university also announced that the decision is in the context of the current discourse on freedom of art and freedom of expression.
Art, culture and science should remain the places where the boundaries of discourse are wide as a matter of principle and controversy is cultivated.
However, the university restricted this: “The university resolutely opposes any form of anti-Semitism, misanthropy and racism.”
Laurie Anderson has directed multimedia stage performances, is a musician and film director.
The former Documenta participant has had solo exhibitions in several museums.
Anderson was appointed as the second Pina Bausch Professor at Folkwang University at the beginning of the month “due to her extraordinary artistic significance and groundbreaking works.”
She was scheduled to take up the professorship on April 1st.
The professorship, established with funds from the NRW state government, is named after the Wuppertal dance artist Pina Bausch, who died in 2009.
The first professorship was held by the performance artist Marina Abramović.
dpa