NAVA statement in support of artist Leslie Eastman

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) stands in full support of Melbourne-based artist Leslie Eastman, whose exhibition The Cave, The Flood at Haydens Gallery faced a sustained and coordinated campaign of intimidation by various pro-Israeli groups seeking to have the exhibition shut down.

Eastman, a respected artist with over 25 years of experience and a Senior Lecturer at RMIT, has received an unacceptable level of harassment, including defamatory media misrepresentation of the artist, the work and the gallery, social media attacks, and death threats via email.

Eastman’s exhibition comprised an installation, drawings, and videos that explored the historical, political, and spiritual dimensions of the ongoing occupation of Palestine. The primary focus of the attack was an inverted pyramidal structure that changed colours from white through to red throughout the day. This artwork had many references, related to themes of spiritual ascension in the cave in the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem but was characterised by the media as a celebration of terrorism and support of Hamas. The work implicitly questions who controls the narrative and meaning of the symbol of the inverted red triangle that has long been used in peaceful Palestinian protests worldwide.

NAVA denounces the deliberate misinterpretation of Eastman’s work by pro-Israeli groups, who reduced the complex spatial installation to a supposed glorification of violence. While interpretations of art can vary, falsely framing this artwork as supportive of terrorism is both misleading and harmful. These distortions overshadow the profound and nuanced nature of the work, which invites reflection on the spiritual, political, and historical dynamics of the region.

“Art has always been a powerful medium for expressing complex social and political perspectives, and it is essential that artists like Leslie Eastman are able to engage with these important issues without fear of attack or intimidation,” said NAVA Executive Director Penelope Benton. “The recent unwarranted attacks, both online and in the media, are deeply concerning and must be recognised as attempts to suppress or delegitimise artistic freedom.”

“NAVA strongly advocates for the right of artistic expression, free from threats, intimidation, or censorship, and asserts that artists should not face unreasonable constraints on their freedom of expression within legal boundaries.”

For documentation and further context on Leslie Eastman’s exhibition, please visit:
https://leslieeastman.com/The-Cave-The-Flood
https://haydens.gallery/The-Cave-The-Flood