Through no fault of my own, it's been almost over a month since my last blog post. The problem has actually been with the website itself and, now that it's fixed, I am overjoyed to be jumping back online to start updating again!
One of the things I've been most anxious to write about is the exhibition currently showing at Sommer Contemporary Art. The gallery has been transformed in order to show two of Israeli artist Yael Bartana's video works, the first from her (unfinished) "Polish Trilogy": Mary Koszmary (Dreams and Nightmares), from 2007, and Mur I Wieza (Wall and Tower) from 2009, the latter of which is having its first showing in Israel.
Mary Koszmary shows Polish activist Slawomir Sierakowski calling for a return of three million Polish Jews to their homeland. Wall and Tower imagines the actualization of his request, as a group of Israelis builds a kibbutz on the former site of the Warszaw Ghetto.
As I often volunteer at Sommer Contemporary Art, I have been able to observe the intense reactions that people have to these two works. While the responses range from absolute outrage to philosophical understanding, the point to me is that, whether you disagree with Sierakowski's vision or not, the video raises valid questions for today that are, indeed, being discussed academically. It is a testament to the strength of Bartana's art that she can confront people in such a manner, expertly evoking both emotions and discourse.
The exhibition ends May 15th.
Sommer Contemporary Art
113 Rothschild Blvd
Mon-Thurs. 10:00-6:00
Fri. 10:00-2:00
Sat. 11:00-1:00
Image credited to Yael Bartana.
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