The statements of architect Zaha Hadid regarding the horrific situation of migrant workers building Hadid’s design, Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 Al-Wakrah stadium, are despicable to say the least. Hadid said “Yes, but I’m more concerned about the deaths in Iraq as well, so what do I do about that? I’m not taking it lightly but I think it’s for the government to look to take care of. It’s not my duty as an architect to look at it. I cannot do anything about it because I have no power to do anything about it. I think it’s a problem anywhere in the world. But, as I said, I think there are discrepancies all over the world.” A statement that does not only undermine the grave situation resulting in the murder of hundreds of people and grave injustices to thousands more, but also whitewashes Hadid’s conscience from her responsibility as a human being and as a privileged artist. A question that has always been at the heart of art(s) and its social and political responsibilities; and the relation between certain privileged artists and corrupt regimes. In the face of injustice, silence is another form of complicity. Especially if one has the privileges she enjoys, and the responsibility that falls on her for the fact that it is her design, and she is getting paid for it by the same murderers killing the workers.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 07:00:38 +0000
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