Iceland not to appeal to Venice Court for Biennale closure
Seyðisfjörður based artist Christoph Büchel's artwork "The Mosque" which the Venetian Municipality and Police authorities assumed was a front for organized Islamic activities and prayer and thereby closed. Photo/Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon
The Icelandic Art Center (IAC), which manages the Icelandic Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, Christoph Büchel’s artwork “The Mosque”, have decided against filing for an appeal to the Regional Administrative Court in Venice, against the closing of the pavilion.
According to the IAC, he Venetian Municipality and Police authorities assumed that The Mosque, situated in a deconsecrated Catholic Church was a front for organized Islamic activities and prayer and thereby closed. The IAC had filed for an appeal at the end of July against the decision of the City to shut down the Icelandic pavilion and demanded the immediate re-opening of the pavilion, in addition to compensation for damages.
They have now decided against appealing as the Venice court denied their demand for fast-track court proceedings. In an announcement from the IAC it states that a verdict from the court proceeding would in consequence only be reached after the exhibition was set to close, in November. The claim for damages will, however, stand.
The announcement also states that the IAC will be looking into other ways to keep the Icelandic Pavilion open.
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