New York’s museum protestes against the new administration’s immigration policy by swapping art by famous western artists for works by artists from countries whose citizens were barred from entering the US.
New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) took a principled political stand on the immigration policy conducted by 45th US president Donald Trump. Paintings by such artists as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse came down and gave place to artists from Muslim-majority countries whose citizens were affected by the entry ban imposed by the new administration.
The museum’s fifth floor traditionally showcases works from the permanent collection of modern art by recognised western artists, like Francis Picabia, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso. But they have been replaced with artworks by artists banned from entering the US as they are citizens of Muslim-majority countries that allegedly pose a threat to the US.
The new exhibition displays works by, for example, Iraqi Zaha Hadid, Iranian video artist Tala Madani, Iranian-Armenian artist Marcos Grigorian, Iranian sculptors Parviz Tanavoli and Hossein Zenderoudi, Sudanese artist Ibrahim el-Salahi.
Seven works of aluminium and steel by Iranian-born American sculptor Siah Armajani were moved to a courtyard. A place card near the artworks reads:
“This work is by an artist from a nation whose citizens are being denied entry into the United States, according to a presidential executive order issued on Jan. 27, 2017. This is one of several such artworks from the Museum’s collection installed throughout the fifth-floor galleries to affirm the ideals of welcome and freedom as vital to this Museum as they are to the United States.”