Anti-Semitism: further criticism of street art festival Ibug

This year's Ibug street art festival in Chemnitz is over, but criticism of the way some of the exhibited works were handled continues. In a letter from critics to the Ibug board, which is available to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, it is to be welcomed that several experts were consulted to examine the accusations of anti-Semitism. However, it is surprising that no expert from the field of anti-Semitism research was involved.

Critics criticize one-sided presentation

In addition, according to the critics, the artworks were categorized by statements from the artists, but not with the critical objections. "In this context, we were very surprised that you did not allow our criticism of the anti-Semitic artworks to become part of these presentations." According to the letter, this gives the impression of a one-sided presentation. The signatories include Chemnitz mathematics professor Vladimir Shikhman and Vladimir Shvemmer, Chemnitz Peace Prize Laureate 2023, who say that it gives the impression "that you wanted to withhold the content of our criticism from the public". "With the best will in the world, you can't call that contextualization."

The Ibug - short for brownfield redevelopment - was part of Chemnitz's programme as European Capital of Culture 2025 this year. To this end, works by 70 artists and collectives from Germany and abroad were shown in a former hospital in Chemnitz. Some dealt with the Gaza war and the suffering of the civilian population.

The works by Luke Carter with the slogan "GERMANY MURDERED WITH" and Plan B, in which mutilated children were shown under the heading "Netanyahu's Stickers Gaza Set", were particularly criticized.

Exhibition with record attendance

The organizers initially took down parts of Carter's artwork after the criticism and obtained several expert opinions. These clearly indicated that the accusations were fundamentally questionable, the Ibug board had announced. The show ended on September 7 with a record number of visitors. Over three weekends, it attracted more than 38,000 people.