Khaled Sabsabi pledges to show Venice Biennale work despite Creative Australia decision to drop him

Khaled Sabsabi says he is committed to presenting the work he pitched to Creative Australia to ensure that the ‘voices and ideas behind it are not silenced’. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

The artistic team who were suddenly withdrawn as Australia’s representatives at next year’s Venice Biennale have broken their silence and suggested they will proceed with their exhibition without the Australian government’s endorsement.

Artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino issued a detailed statement on Wednesday evening, saying they remained committed to presenting the work they pitched to Creative Australia last year in Venice, to ensure that the “voices and ideas behind it are not silenced”.