After nearly 16 months of the Israel-Hamas war—which has resulted in the deaths of around 1,700 Israelis and more than 48,000 Palestinians, and ravaged most of Gaza—a ceasefire came into effect in late January. Yet the region’s political strife continues to impact the global community, including the international art world where restrictions on artistic expression have amplified since the beginning of the year.

In February, Germany’s scandal-ridden art event Documenta issued a new code of conduct ahead of its 16th edition that includes a contentious definition of antisemitism. Adhering to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition—which includes “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of the State of Israel is a racist endeavor”—the code aims to ensure “tolerance and respect for human dignity” in Documenta’s forthcoming installment, slated to open in 2027 in Kassel.