Art Dealer Disinvites Vietnamese Artist To Gallery Over Coronavirus Fears
Image via Anton_Ivanov / Shutterstock.com
A London art dealer has caused an uproar after uninviting a Vietnamese artist amid concerns of the coronavirus spreading.
Director of Vietnamese Contemporary Fine Art gallery, Raquelle Azran, cancelled the invitation through an email and told artist An Nguyen not to come to the gallery at London’s Affordable Art Fair because “coronavirus is causing anxiety everywhere, and Asians are being seen as carriers of the virus.”
Her comments have been heavily criticized by social media users. The fair organizers immediately distanced themselves from the decision, stating that the email came directly from an exhibitor.
According to CNN, the organizers weren’t aware of the email communications, and assured that such views were “not held by the Affordable Art Fair.” They clarified that they have not “instructed any exhibiting gallery to take such action.”
Azran has expressed regret over her decision, telling BuzzFeed that she was apologetic for her actions. “They were insensitive and in hindsight reflected poor judgement for me to cancel An Nguyen joining my stand as an assistant,” she said.
Azran will also no longer be exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair in a bid to “encourage and exhibit Vietnamese artists and help them achieve the recognition they deserve.” The gallery’s name has been removed from the fair’s list of exhibitors.
White art dealer of Vietnamese art disinvites Vietnamese artist to gallery because “fairly or not, Asians are being seen as carriers of the virus.”
— Minh-Ha T. Pham (@minh81) March 5, 2020
They want the work, not the worker. Tale as old as capitalism. pic.twitter.com/7zJjme0cUF
This is absolutely wild. Vietnamese artist An Nguyen has been asked to not show up at @AAFLondon because their presence would 'create hesitation' for the non-asian audience. pic.twitter.com/t0kjmFWMvR
— Anthony Ing (@AnthonyIng) March 5, 2020
We are aware of a tweet showing a screen grab of an email from an exhibiting gallery requesting an artist not to attend our Fair next week in Battersea. The message was not sent by the Affordable Art Fair and we in no way condone its contents, see a full statement here: pic.twitter.com/Y59X0Hdiib
— Affordable Art Fair (@AAFLondon) March 5, 2020
So that art dealer has made her livelihood from profiting off Vietnamese (artists) specifically, but also thinks they’re all disease-ridden and only to be trotted out for display when clean. Imperial colonial mindset much?? 😂
— G (@aquameanie) March 7, 2020
Number of Coronavirus cases in Vietnam: 17
— Harry Craig 🇪🇺 (@hazcraig1) March 6, 2020
Number of Coronavirus cases in the UK: 163
🤔🤔
xenophobia running rampant
— 🌈YOONGI DAY 😸 (@socal4rmy) March 7, 2020
[via Evening Standard, opening image via Facebook]
