BIennale Artist Ahmet Öğüt (Turkey) Returns and Donates His Artist Fee to the Biennale

Tomorrow is the media preview of the Biennale and as an arts writer, following the decision to cut all ties with Transfield as per the artists boycott, I then accepted my media art writer invitation to attend the preview and participate as a media art writer in the 19th Biennale of Sydney.

Ahmet Öğüt, Biennale artist from Turkey is one of the group of artists who withdrew from the Biennale in protest at the links to immigration detention camp funds, and who also stated that he would withdraw contingent on the links not being severed. As the Biennale Board has severed the difficult ties, he has now announced that he has returned from Turkey, to participate in the Biennale as an exhibiting artist. He has announced too that he is donating his artist fee to the Biennale, in appreciation of the hard work by the Biennale team, that this has caused.

Here is a message he has sent via social media:

"I see the Biennale of Sydney’s decision to cut all ties with Transfield and Resignation of the Chairman, as a very positive development for the future of the Biennial and the role of Biennial's in general. I decided to return and participate in the Biennial, since our demand from the Biennial stated in our withdrawal letter was fulfilled. I acknowledge that this process is not easy for the Biennial team; I have donated my artist fee to the Biennial as a sign of appreciation of art workers' hard work. I think it is time to join forces together as one voice; for all artists, curators, art workers and cultural producers to create new constructive opportunities, develop further debates, and continue to be in support of the human rights of asylum seekers."

Ahmet Öğüt

17.3.2014
I may after all not be able to attend the media preview tomorrow in Sydney as I am unwell, and have publishing deadlines, and the train journey is 3 hours from here, (then 3 hours back) but I will be participating as a writer and accessing images and writing up the Biennale, for articles and my forthcoming book. This will include writing about a range of artists in and not in the Biennale, and the wider issues that this has brought into focus.   Ruth Skilbeck

Update. 18.3.14
Am attending the media preview today and now on the train. Will report on the events and post here in the next few days, on artworks and artists, with photos. RS