Exhibitions

At the heart of the present exhibition are fifty paintings by Jewish children in Germany on the eve of the Second World War. The pictures were selected from a unique collection of over 1,800 items, part of the estate of artist and teacher Julo Levin (born 1901, perished in Auschwitz, 1943). His close friends worked hard to save Levin’s works and preserve his legacy, and donated the collection to the Stadtmuseum of Düsseldorf.

Today's art world, in Israel and worldwide, evinces an increased interest in the intersection of art and social activism. Known as artivism, this new form of expression aspires to blend art and activism in equal degree. Contemporary art criticism emphasizes the power of art to function as an arena for political protest. Artistic activism, a new phenomenon that has become a staple of our time, is different from the type of critical art that dominated modernist discourse in the 20th century, as pointed out by curator and philosopher Boris Grois.

Dede's activity as a street artist spans over a decade, and his works are exhibited in galleries and museums. He draws inspiration from the pulse of the cityscape – architecture, rhythms, voices, and passers-by. He is motivated by a desire to leave his own mark on the city, which has become an integral part of his work.

Oren Ziv: Asylum Seekers in Israel – Protest against Unlimited Imprisonment Press photographer Oren Ziv co-founded the ActiveStills collective in 2005, during the Bil'in protests against the Israeli West Bank barrier. Over the years, members of the collective covered social and political

Seeking refuge, immigration, crossing the Mediterranean via clandestine routes – these have become central issues for many artists, critics, and curators. Small boats carrying immigrants have emerged, in the words of art historian Jennifer González, as "an iconic sign and key metaphor for African migration."

The liberal political stance that seeks to define the limits of the LGBTQIA space is based on two complementary assumptions. First is the assumption of otherness, which presumes an inherent difference between the LGBTQIA community and heterosexuals – one that transcends any other form of kinship that may exist between the two groups.

The first part of the exhibition focuses on the notion of anonymity as a crucial component in contemporary female activism. This motif opposes the idea of intimate and personal familiarity with the female image.
Judith Butler in her book Precarious Life (2004) analyzes images of victims in the media. The victim’s narrative is always told in the first person. We identify with the victim by getting to know his or her family, education, and lifestyle.

This exhibition examines the artists' perspective on struggle and protest and the degree of their involvement, which can range from artistic homage to pronounced activism. The works depict battle scenes, rallies, or protests – some well-known while others are none recognizable. The exhibition revolves around two central images: the mask and the knight. The mask is used for concealment and protection. It provides anonymity and can help the wearer lose his or her inhibitions and express personal freedom.

Vik Muniz's floating installation Lampedusa was launched during the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015. Constructed in commemoration of the 360 immigrants who drowned during their journey from Libya to Italy, the 14-meter-long paper boat was coated with a giant reproduction of the Italian newspaper that reported the tragedy.

We are currently living in a state of emergency, as described by the Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben. This is a state in which the government presents the limitation of personal liberties as an inevitable step for maintaining national freedom. Different from situations of anarchy or chaos, the suspension of law is given legal basis. This practice has become central to many democratic countries. Western democracy have developed a tendency not to declare a state of emergency explicitly.