Exclusive: Lebanese Australian artist says ‘nobody should have to go through this torture’ in first interview since being dumped from Venice Biennale exhibition

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Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi has blamed Creative Australia for the “dismantling” of his career and said the board’s decision to revoke his appointment as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative has given the green light for others to smear his reputation.

In his first interview since being dumped from the prestigious art exhibition in February and just days after Monash University “indefinitely postponed” another exhibition he was due to take part in, Sabsabi told Guardian Australia the board’s “kneejerk” reaction has affected his emotional and physical wellbeing, family and career.

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