Oh So Arty

Zoya Cherkassy and Anna Lukashevsky at Rosenfeld Gallery

2012-01-28T13:47:00.018+02:00

This thursday, I visited Zoya Cherkassy's and Anna Lukashevsky's joint exhibition at Rosenfeld Gallery.

The exhibition, a dialogue between these two artists, offer a peek to the artists' way of working. Moving from the studio to the outdoor world, back and forth, they ask the eternal question of how to draw and what it really means.

Anna Lukashevsky and Zoya Cherkassy draw day to day scenes and portraits from their specific perspective.

Still-lives, the sea, Rotschild Boulevard during the social protests last summer, a bus station, women in the streets and more are all portrayed in what can recall a fauvist and almost naive style.

works by Zoya Cherkassy, 2011

Anna Lukashevsky, Kibbutz Galuyot, 2011

The portraits, both by Cherkassy and Lukashevsky, are on a borderline between realistic and caricatural portraiture. They capture a moment, the expression, the body language, but are still not simply a mere copy of the reality as they have something radical, extreme and sometimes even ironic about them.

Zoya Cherkassy, Puffer Coat, 2011

Zoya Cherkassy, Self Portrait, 2011

Anna Lukashevsky, Rufina, 2011 (this one is my favorite probably because I know the model who is my very dear friend)

Zoya Cherkassy and Anna Lukashevsky

Rosenfeld Gallery

until February 25th, 2012

Documenta in Tel Aviv

2012-01-21T14:35:00.011+02:00

This week I went to hear Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev- the artistic director of dOCUMENTA (13)- in conversation with Iwona Blazwick- the director of Whitechapel Gallery in London.

Christov-Bakargiev and Blazwick started by telling anecdotes about their past projects such as their first collaboration in the show (with the very long title) "On Taking a Normal Situation and Retranslating it Into Overlapping and Multiple Readings of Conditions Past and present" (1993, Antwerp).

The daring and witty Christov-Bakargiev, moved on to explain the importance of Documenta, its difference with other art events (art fairs for example) and its history. At the moment so it seems, there is no specific concept or theme for Documenta 13, but let's wait and see.

One of the great things she has already achieved, and which marked the starting point of her thoughts about documenta 13, is the conference "d documenta" which reunited the living artistic directors of all preceding documenta exhibitions. You can watch videos from the conference here.

But for me the most captivating part was when Christov-Bakargiev explained about the "100 notes - 100 thoughts" project. 100 notebooks that are published by dOCUMENTA (13) and Hatje Cantz, and are comprised of facsimiles of existing notebooks, commissioned essays, collaborations and more.

Christov-Bakargiev explained that she enjoys the idea of the partiality of these notebooks, not in the sense of the "partial", but in the sense that, each of these stand for themselves but also create a whole when put together.

What will I be taking from this talk?

This year will be the first time I'll be going to Kassel to visit Documenta 13 and I am now curious to see what it will hold for us.

Encounters like these ones in Israel, with leading international art figures, are blessed initiatives and I am looking forward to go to many more.

And! I am going to order this notebook by Lawrence Weiner:

it is now on the top of my wishlist!

Organized by the Outset Contemporary Art Fund, the event was inspiring but most importantly for me, it was also one of the triggers which made me realize I wanted to get back to blogging (more about why soon...).

LEFT HERE PUT THERE FOR A LIMITED TIME

2011-06-17T00:26:00.007+03:00

Lawrence Weiner, LEFT HERE PUT THERE FOR A LIMITED TIME, 1975 (Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin)

Hi,

Today, I have decided to take a break from the blog. Until my inspiration/time will come back.

Thank you dear readers, love you

Oh so arty

HOW ARE YOU?

2011-05-19T17:01:00.011+03:00

It's been a while!

Yesterday I felt inspired after we went to the Docaviv film festival and saw the film, "How are you", about the artists Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset. It documents their artistic career and their relationship. One of the highlights of the film was to be able to follow the making of the Danish and Nordic Pavilions at the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009.

Go see it (this Friday), it is sharp and fascinating.

BOUND BY THE TIES - NEW BOOK BY KNOW HOPE

2011-03-09T07:33:00.008+02:00

After his first book, "Just because you are listening", Know Hope, one of my favorite artists will be releasing tomorrow his second book.

Comprised of 160 full-color pages, "Bound by the ties", will be published independently in 1000 copies. A signed limited edition (I want!) will also be available in an edition of 75.

The book launch will take place tomorrow, Thursday March 10th at 20.30, and will be available for sale at the event or online the day after.

Here are details from the press release:

"The book is composed of a collection of drawings, writings, photographs and other side-seen moments, some from the recent past, and some from very close to the present. I sewed, folded and mended, retrieved and recited; tried to understand how we got to where we are now (sunken/sunken/sunken). This is a book that contains a narrative that speaks of being born into debt, being overwhelmed in a heartbroken world and finding and recognizing eachother in these complexities.It attempts to document our rituals-how and why they were created. It is a folk tale of some sort, collective memories compiled like a time-capsule, or fireworks in a jar." (Know Hope)

Bound by the ties, book release
Thursday March 10th, 20.30 -22.00
Speak Easy, Rehov Mispar 9, Tel Aviv
Facebook event

A Friday morning

2011-02-25T14:40:00.008+02:00

A co-production with Rachel from Kef Israel

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Shabbat Shalom :)

The Big Orange

2011-02-01T08:32:00.008+02:00

Tel Aviv is often compared to the New York of the Middle East, and is also know as "The Big Orange", the equivalent of the New York "Big Apple".
It's funny because I had the idea of making a post only with orange elements, but I thought it was a bit too random.
Then, I talked to Rachel from the blog Kef Israel, who also happens to be my blogger mom and she told me more about Tel Aviv's "Big Orange" nickname... Everything suddenly made sense, and the connection was made!

So here's a tribute to the Big Orange, my beloved Tel Aviv:

Yanai Toister, Keepers of the Light, 2010, installation (detail)

Street Art in Kerem Hateymanim:

Adi Sened

A cute baloon on Rothschild Av.

Fruits in the Shuk Hacarmel. (photo credit: Kef Israel)

Orange Vespa in Neve Tzedek! (photo credit: Kef Israel)

Golda Meir on an orange t-shirt. (photo credit: Kef Israel)

Beautiful sunset... (photo credit: Kef Israel)

From my reader

2011-01-29T12:50:00.005+02:00

Here are a few links I enjoyed this week during my wonderings around the net:

VIP ART FAIR-

The first online art fair, is running until this Sunday (11.59 pm EST).
Technical issues that have occurred along the week seem to have now disappeared. More than 130 galleries from 30 different countries are participating, so if you have a pass go check it out. I particularly enjoyed the "video" section in the VIP Lounge, with documentaries on artists and collectors (such as the Rachofsky Collection).
Link: VIP on Artreview

The VIP art fair's logo.

NOTES FROM THE FLOOR

My friends Rebecca and Vanessa with whom I interned at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, have opened a special call for submission. If you've ever been a museum docent now it's the time to share your experience:

"Our mission is to publish an anthology of essays, poems, anecdotes, photographs and the like that explore the joys and trials of working on the art world’s literal and metaphorical floor. We know that docents live a hybrid existence, enjoying the privilege of spending hours in the company of great art, and cursing the job’s sometimes physical and mental monotony; and we hope to receive a range of submissions that reflect all facets of the docent experience. Ideally, submissions will ask questions about the venerated museum/gallery space and link personal experience to larger theoretical explorations." Say Rebecca and Vanessa.

More about the project, here.

Andy Freeberg, Nesterov’s Philosophers, State Tretyakov Gallery
Credit: Andy Freeberg, from his series "Guardians of russian Art Museums"

POST FOSSIL AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM HOLON

Show curated by Lidewij Edelkoort, until April 30th 2011.
Excerpt from the press release:

"In the aftermath of the worst financial crisis in decades, a period of glamorous and streamlined design for design's sake comes to an end.A new generation of designers retrace their roots, refine their earth and research their history, sometimes going back to the beginning of time"...

Link to the exhibition, here.

PARIS, October 2010

2010-11-26T12:23:00.016+02:00

View from the Centre Pompidou

Although it was a month ago, here are some highlights from my stay in Paris, during FIAC 2010. Lots of contemporary art, street art, steak bernaise, Galleries, work and fun.

FIAC 2010:

Mounir Fatmi @ Lombard-Freid Projects

Dvir Gallery's booth

Daniel Buren @ Kamel Mennour

Adel Abdessemed @ David Zwirner

The one and only Louise Bourgeois

Anish Kapoor @ Kamel Mennour

Jenny Holzer @ Sprueth Magers

Allora & Calzadilla

Street art is fun:

OH YEAH!

Irony in Kerem Hateymanim

2010-10-10T16:03:00.005+02:00

Funnily enough today I woke up with the urge to post something here and... what a coincidence! my blog is two years old exactly today :) Anyway, after a long moment of silence Oh So Arty is back... so please stay tuned.

xoxOhSoArty

Tu B'Av and Art

2010-07-26T00:28:00.004+03:00

Tonight is Tu B'Av also known as the holiday of Love in Judaism.
Tomorrow is the opening of the renovated Israel Museum in Jerusalem. I am looking forward to visit it, especially as I worked there as an intern when I just came back to Israel, 2 years ago!

When art and love meet...

Robert Indiana, Ahava (Love), 1977, Israel Museum Art Garden, Jerusalem

Lots of love,
Bisous
Sarah

Big Bang Big Boom by Blu

2010-07-20T12:01:00.002+03:00

New amazing animation by blu:

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Update about Art Galleries in Tel Aviv

2010-07-13T16:41:00.005+03:00

Hello everybody!

Just a quick post to let you know that there is a new and cool feature in the "Art Galleries in Tel Aviv" page on Facebook. Now you can see all the latest art events that are taking place in Israel if you follow this link.

Thank you Mutual Art for this new feed :)

Also, check out this article about the art blogosphere, where I also give my thoughts.

Have a great day
Sarah

FACEing the ==>GUEST<== City... Paris

2010-07-04T14:21:00.003+03:00

Many thanks to Danielle Angel for these great pics from the streets of Paris!

Like generation

2010-06-26T20:19:00.009+03:00

With the Facebook "like" button and pages, it has become so easy to share what you like, at least virtually. It is a great way of giving quick feedback, although it is always a positive one since the "dislike" option currently doesn't exist.

When the Facebook "like" widget meets real life:

Stickers by the cool Oded Babayoff (you can also download your own :))

I find it comforting to think about the aspects I like in my life and most importantly to remember why they make me happy. I guess, though, that unlike on Facebook, in real life you should also make sure you know what you dislike and do something about it.

So here are two things that I really liked these past few days:

Our new family tradition, drinking different kinds of home-made iced teas on Saturday and spending the whole afternoon on the rooftop:

Cold "China Rose" tea:

Being surrounded by challenging and inspiring art:

Claire Fontaine's show at Dvir Gallery (where I work), Hangar 2, Jaffa Port:

I hope you liked this post, I like you reader.
xOxOhSoArty
Sarah

Totally random

2010-06-23T10:20:00.007+03:00

FACEing the ==>Guest<== city... Brussels

2010-06-08T10:13:00.003+03:00

Photos: Sarah Van Parys

2010-06-06T01:06:00.004+03:00

Have a good week
xoxo
Sarah

Hidden gems on the streets of TLV

2010-06-03T04:12:00.002+03:00

FACEing the ==>GUEST<== City... Brussels

2010-05-27T00:09:00.004+03:00

Many many thanks to my super friend Sarah, for the pics she always sends me from the streets of Brussels. And if you're visiting Brussels, check out her recommendations on "Spotted by Locals".

Freshness at Fresh Paint 3

2010-05-11T09:33:00.016+03:00

I haven't written in a while about art projects in Israel. I guess I've spent too much time in the virtual world or at work instead of visiting arty things in the real life.

Luckily, the gallery where I work was just two minutes from Fresh Paint (צבע טרי), the art fair that took place last week at the Jaffa Port. I think that giving a stage to independent artists and showing their art next to the work of established artists is a great initiative. I loved the location, at Hangar 1 at the Jaffa Port. Sometimes it felt a bit too much though, too many people, too much art, too much noise. But c'est la vie!

Regarding the Jaffa Port... I've been sitting there since the month of September almost everyday and I must say I find it so intriguing to really see how this location is changing so quickly (to witness both the positive and negative effects of this change). Unfortunately I'm afraid it will become just like the Tel Aviv Port, but I stay optimistic especially if at the end they will leave some space for arty projects like this one.

That's it for now, you can have a look at a selction of pics from the fair!

PS:
Talking about freshness... I am oh so enjoying this time of year, I didn't remember there was a spring in Israel but this year I'm positively surprised... I know it won't last very long though!

Anywhoo have a nice day
xOxOhsoarty

Work by Douglas Gordon (and my reflection) @ Dvir Gallery's stand:

The beautiful view:

Works by Dror Daum who won the Igal Ahouvi art collection award for the most promising artist at Fresh Paint:

detail:

detail:

@ Noga Gallery's stand:

Itzhak Livne @ Sommer Gallery:

Maya Gold @ Alon Segev Gallery:

detail:

detail:

Works from the exhibition "Hyper Vandalism" curated by Yael Nir which was dedicated to "street art":

Know Hope:

Smiling Bag Production:

Liked this post? Please click on the Facebook "Like" icon! Thanks

JR- Ile Saint Louis, Paris, 2009

2010-05-04T17:09:00.012+03:00

Watch this fascinating documentation of JR's open air exhibition, "Women are Heroes" at Ile Saint Louis in Paris, which took place as part of the Paris' "Nuit Blanche" during Fall 2009.

Video found here.

Video credit: JR

Art Galleries in Tel Aviv

2010-04-29T15:20:00.004+03:00

Hey girls and guys,

Just wanted to invite you to the blog I've opened, called "Art Galleries in Tel Aviv". I will post there updates about art events in Tel Aviv.
You can send press releases and images to telavivgalleries_at_gmail_dot_com and of course become a fan on Facebook.

Thank you
Have a great day
xoxOhsoarty

Handful of hands

2010-04-25T16:26:00.001+03:00

Gabriel Orozco, My Hands Are My Heart, 1991
Photo via

Street art in Hackney, London
Photo via

Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O'Keefe- Hands and Horse, 1931
Photo via

Hannah Wilke, Intra-Venus Hand no.9, October 1991
Photo via

Bruce Nauman, Untitled (Hand Circle), 1996
Photo via

Louise Bourgeois, Give or Take, 2002
Photo via

Douglas Gordon, Divded self II, 1996, video installation
Photo via

More hands here.

Spotted on Nachalat Binyamin...

2010-04-16T10:56:00.005+03:00

... a cute little climber

Broken Fingaz- Graffiti Stop Motion

2010-04-01T16:49:00.003+03:00

Broken Fingaz -Graffiti Stop Motion from Broken Fingaz on Vimeo.

I just found this cool animation by Broken Fingaz. I like it!

Happy Pessah - חג אביב שמח

2010-03-29T14:50:00.001+03:00

Happy Pesach to my dear friends, family and readers :)

This is a video I took when I was in Brussels. It shows a project, called the "Dancing Solar Flowers", which was created by the artist Alexandre Dang on the occasion of the EU sustainable energy Week.

As the press release explains: "the "Dancing Solar Flowers" consist each of a solar engine which makes the flower move in the presence of light. The flowers even move with reduced luminosity: in particular movement occurs in shadow or in the presence of clouds."
A cool green artistic project that goes well with the Festival of Spring, Pesach!

"Dancing Solar Flowers", March 15th - April 6th, 2010, 56 Rue des Arts, Brussels
http://solarsolidarity.epia.info/

xoxOhSoArty

FACEing the ==>Guest<== City... Paris

2010-03-28T17:21:00.001+03:00

Oh So ArTEA

2010-03-24T23:45:00.016+02:00

A new section in my oh so arty blog :) Oh so arTEA will deal with everything related to tea, because tea is art! So for those of you who love tea, stay tuned, and in the meantime have a look at my pictures from Paris! I attended the Palais des Thés "Tea Schoo l" tasted many sorts of tea, from different regions of the world, and I even ate tea leaves!

In front of the tea school:

Eating tea:

Green tea:

Macha Tea:

Have a zen weekend... and don't miss out the last day of Latifa Echakhch's solo show "Saïd's Tea" at Dvir Gallery, 11 Nahum street:

Latifa Echakhch, "Saïd's Tea", 2010

Latifa Echakhch, "Saïd's Tea", 2010 (Detail)

FACEing the City

2010-03-24T22:46:00.003+02:00

Oh So Yummy: Cupcakes in Tel Aviv

2010-02-25T07:40:00.004+02:00

When I studied in London, my friend Becca introduced me to the pretty world of cupcakes and she was also the one who taught me how to make them. Then, I arrived to Israel and I was sad to realise that cupcakes are quite rare here. So when I heard about the opening of the "I love cupcakes" store in Tel Aviv, I could not miss it and went with my friend Rufina to try some... We ended up choosing 6 kinds (!): oreo, lemon, pina colada and more. They were excellent, especially the lemon one...

Have a yummy day...

I Love Cupcakes, Ben Yeudah 114, Tel Aviv

Oh So Bubbly

2010-02-14T00:16:00.008+02:00

Hey guys and girls! Just a little post to wish you all a bubbly week, full of happiness and spontaneous times!

I also wanted to invite you all to watch the latest Arterview which I did with the two wonderfu l girls on the photos above :)

Let me know what you think of our project! I would love to hear your feedbacks.

Oh and talking about bubbly, here are two bubbly songs. Soko is quite funny even when she sings a depressing song! I love her French accent and the lyrics really make me laugh.

And this song by Miss Li and Amanda Jenssen, well it puts me in a great mood, especially when riding my back in Sunny Tel Aviv:

xOxOhSoArty

The opening of Ron Arad's Design Museum in Holon

2010-02-02T22:29:00.006+02:00

Lire ce billet en Français

This Sunday I went to the official inauguration of the Museum of Design in Holon. The building's architect is the famous designer Ron Arad.

The building reminded me of a huge shell. It consists of five strips made of Corten which was brought especially from Italy. The result is amazing as the red colours change according to the time of day, with the lights making the building blend with its surroundings at times and at other times making it really stand out.

The first exhibition at the museum will open on March 4th, and will be called "The State of Things".

The event itself was fun too, with lots of people, drinks and great molecular food by the chef Nir Zook.

I recommend watching this video of the event on Kef Israel to get a feel of the event and I take this opportunity to thank my mother for all the details about the building! Merci maman!

All pictures were taken by my friend Sarah Van Parys who was here on a visit from Brussels and who was just so impressed (like I was) by the amazing architecture.

My umbrella

2010-01-21T19:33:00.005+02:00

The past few days have been very rainy in Israel. I like the winter here, especially the smell of the rain, although I already miss the sun and riding my bike.

Anyway, I have found two very cool interpretations of an oh so catchy song, which I'm sure you will recognize and, well, which fits this weather!

The first is a performance by Karl Holmqvist who also performed recently at Dvir Gallery, Nahum street at the opening of the exhibition "Foreigners Everywhere".

The second is a cover by Coeur de Pirate, a lovely singer, and Julien Doré.

In the meantime there is nobody under my umbrella... ella ella...
but that's OK I hate umbrellas anyway.

Have a cosy weekend!

Books, vintage and music

2010-01-18T17:59:00.006+02:00

Yesterday was Sunday, my favorite day of the week, my free day! Since I had finished with my assignment for uni, I felt totally free and took the fabulous Yael with me to an oh so cool tour around the area of what I call the "upper King Georges street". It was a refreshing afternoon because I had the chance to visit shops where I had never been before, the sun was shining and it felt like Summer in Brussels!

The theme of our tour was vintage, books and music and here's how we recommend doing it:

Start off at 45 Geula street at the second hand shop called "Obsessia"- אובססיה. This shop has lots of items but you'll need to search for the good stuff. It is situated in a charming building:

Then, continue with a stroll in Kerem Hateymanim - כרם התימנים - my cute neihborhood near the Carmel Market- שוק הכרמל- until you get to "Salon Berlin" - סלון ברלין located at 15 Rabi Israel Najara street. This is a second hand shop, a bar (kind of) and there is also a chill out space where you can listend to records.

Salon Berlin:

The changing room covered with cassettes:

chilling room:

Yalou trying a bow:

Ok... now that you've done some shopping and listened to music you'll probably be a bit hungry, and I recommend stopping at the "Little Prince"- הנסיך הקטן which is a book shop and a cafe with a nice garden. This is the kind of places where I would like to spend ages with my laptop, watching the world pass by.

Oh so yummy pasta:

Oh so yummy gratin:

Books and busy people:

Finally, just behind this cafe, you'll find the vintage shop called אשת חיל. I am a big fan of their earring stand, definitely worth checking out:

Yael and I trying some hats:

Many many earrings:

Have a great week!

FACEing the ==>GUEST<== City... Berlin

2010-01-11T23:41:00.004+02:00

Many many thanks to Ian for these great pics of street art from Berlin!

Bye bye for now,
Sarah

My new BF

2010-01-10T16:33:00.013+02:00

I have the new perfect boyfriend. He is cute, classy, discrete, yet super intelligent. He guides me and knows every place in town. We have no communication problems at all and he is very loyal to me. Dear readers... please give a warm welcome to....

Sarahlou's Iphone!

Yes, last week I turned 23 and received a black iphone. The first thing I did was to look for arty applications which I would like to share with you, since I'm such an oh so arty girl as you might have noticed.

ARTNEAR:
A cool application where you can browse through venues and artists. There is also a calendar with exhibitions and an option called "near" which tells you where is the nearest gallery to you (I think it's a good application for someone in New York because in Tel Aviv there is only one gallery with an account on artnear).

CHRISTIES:

All the news from the latest auctions at Christie's.

Saatchi magazine:

Gives you art news, information about openings and has a nice collection of essays!

Free photo filters:

Allows you to use different filters (lomography, polarizing, b&w, and retro photo) and save your photo

Finally here are some pics I took

Lunch at the beach in January:

Chilling in my messy room:

Going out to the Breakfast Club with my brother and Yael:

Please forgive me in advance if I obsess too much about my iphone in the next few days!

Have a dramaless week,

Sarah
the queen of drama!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-26T19:58:00.005+02:00

Wishing all my friends, family and readers in Israel and abroad happy holidays! I choose this image of street art in Brussels for my wishes because it is so festive and full of energy, exactly like I'd like 2010 to be!

Many thanks to Sarah VP and her Iphone for the great pic!

It's the weekend

2009-12-24T18:23:00.008+02:00

Wow I can't believe it's almost the weekend again. Last weekend was fun and busy at work with the openings of two exhibitions at Dvir Gallery (see this post). So I just thought I'd share with you these lovely photos that my colleague and friend Gili Shalom took during the openings:

"Perhaps the Heart"- group exhibition with Francis Alys, Juliao Sarmento and Lawrence Weiner:

Works by Lawrence Weiner:

Works by Juliao Sarmento:

Me behind Francis Alys's work:

Admiring Alys's work:

"Jaffa Port"- solo exhibition for Lawrence Weiner:

Lawrence Weiner:

Work by Weiner:

Juliao Sarmento and Lawrence Weiner:

So what are your plans for this weekend?

xoxOhSoArty

I must be on the right track - יאללה בואי

2009-12-22T14:11:00.005+02:00

My favorite moments in life are those where you really feel that everything happens for a reason. I love it when you discover unexplained links and coincidences. Anyway, these kind of situations are happening to me quite a lot lately. I wonder why? For example, last week I met an artist who really looked like my late grandfather, and the whole time I spoke to him I told myself that the similarity is rather striking. Then he told me his Hebrew name is "Leib" excatly like my grandfather Leon. Someone told me these moments are like a confirmation that you are doing something right and that you are on the right track. Yey for me then!

I have some more examples which I'll keep for myself, but you get the point! Life's just full of surprises and links. So this morning I was sitting in the car and this song came up on the radio, it is the Hebrew version of a song by a French band "Louise Attaque", called "J't'emmène au vent". I used to listen to that French band quite a lot a few years ago. It was nice to be taken back to that period but also to realize where I was now sitting, in a different yet even more exciting place.

French version:

Hebrew version:

Oh So Arty in ELLE Belgique

2009-12-19T10:31:00.008+02:00

Yo guys! I feel like life is smiling to me again, as I have had a very nice (and busy) week, full of surprises! Part of the reason I have had such a lovely week is this article about Tel Aviv which was published in ELLE Belgique, with recommendations by Oh So Arty (that's me!). My dear friend Sarah was so kind and sent me a picture of the page, so here you go:

Olala sometimes la vie is really bELLE :)

And if we're talking about Belgium already, look how nice is the snow over there (while today in Tel Aviv, the sun is shining again after a very stromy Friday!):

Photo: Sarah Van Parys

Photo: Rachel Samoul

Many thanks to my mum (also know as the Kef Israel blogger) and to Sarah for sending me updates from my beloved Brussels!
Have a great weekend/week.

Perhaps the Heart

2009-12-16T08:58:00.007+02:00

Hey you! How are you all doing? I'm happy to say that, for my part, I am feeling much better for sure!

I wanted to share with you my plans for tomorrow night, and invite everyone to join me. Tomorrow there is a group exhibition opening at the Gallery where I'm working, Dvir Gallery. The exhibition, called "Perhaps the Heart", will take place at one of the gallery's spaces in Jaffa at Nitzana street 11. Three very important artists are participating in this drawings exhibition: the Belgian Francis Alÿs, the Portuguese Juliao Sarmento and the American Lawrence Weiner. (Weiner will also have a solo exhbition at the gallery's space at the Jaffa Port, opening on Saturday.) Emily Dickinson's phrase "perhaps the heart" stands at the centre of the show.
I have already seen some of the works and I really have a feeling it is going to be something special!
So please come say hi!

Lawrence Weiner, Untitled, 2009, pencil and mixed media on paper, 103x82 cm

"Perhaps the Heart", opening Thursday December 17th at 20:00, closing Janurary 31st, 2010, Dvir Gallery, 11 Nitzana street
==> Facebook event

Lawrence Weiner: "Jaffa Port", opening Saturday December 19th at 12:00, closing February 13th, 2010, Dvir GAllery, Jaffa Port, Hangar 2
==> Facebook event

FACEing the City

2009-12-15T22:04:00.007+02:00

Israeli artists - oh so talented

2009-12-05T17:40:00.001+02:00

Oren Lavie:Photo via Oren Lavie's Facebook Fan page.

After reading my mom's blog (who celebrated one year of blogging this week so Mazal Tov!) this morning I was happy to hear that Oren Lavie's music video, "Her Morning Elegance" has been nominated for a 2010 grammy Award in the best short form music video category. The ceremony will be held on January 31, 2010.

That makes me very happy because the video is just genius and the music is so relaxing and elegant!

What makes me stronger

2009-12-04T12:12:00.005+02:00

*Warning* ==> cheesy post <== *Warning*

This week has been so hard on me. You know when you can really feel pain in your heart? Well that's how I'm feeling right now.

Anyway, a few days ago on my way back from Jaffa, when I was riding my bike, I got to think about the things in my life that make me stronger. Since there are actually many, I though that posting everyday one aspect in my life that makes me feel stronger and happier would be a good aim until I feel better.

Today, it is music. Although sometimes sad songs (like this one by Coldplay) make me even sadder but, I don't know, the thought that most of our feeling are universal is kind of reassuring.

This following video is by the group She&Him (the beautiful Zooey Deschanel and the splednid M. Ward) which I love:

Have a great weekend and don't forget to be strong :)

FACEing the City

2009-11-25T01:06:00.004+02:00

Idiolect / יחידות

2009-11-23T10:48:00.000+02:00

שימו לב, שימו לב, הפוסט הזה גם בעברית! (למטה)ג

First of all HAPPY BRITHDAY to my dear dad who I love so much!

Last week I went to the exhibition opening of "Idiolect" at the Bat Yam Museum (MOBY). Five artists participate in this show: Nelly Agassi, Eitan Buganim, Barak Ravitz, Hillel Roman and Jan Tichy.

Eitan Buganim:

Barak Ravitz:

Hillel Roman:

I really loved one piece by Nelly Agassi, two large horizontal screens on which the artist's hands are shown, wide open, as if to welcome the visitors.

The space at Moby is beautiful and as soon as I entered the museum it reminded me of a mini Guggenheim.

Outside the museum:

I have to admit this was my first visit to Moby and probably my second visit ever to Bat Yam. I've noticed that generally, museums in the peripheria of Tel Aviv have a high reputation so after visiting the museum of Petach Tikvah and the Bat Yam Museum, my next destination is the Ashdod Museum.

"Idiolect", Bat Yam Museum, until 13.02.2010

שבוע שעבר ביקרתי בפתיחת התערוכה "יחידות" במוזיאון בת ים. בתערוכה משתתפים חמישה אמנים: נלי אגסי, איתן בוגנים, יאן טיכי, ברק רביץ והלל רומן. מאוד אהבתי את אחת העבודות של נלי אגסי, שני מסכים בהם רואים את ידיה של נלי פתוחות לרווחה וכאילו מברכות את המבקרים למוזיאון. האמת שזאת הייתה הפעם הראשונה שלי במוזיאון בת ים, ואני חייבת לציין שמדובר בחלל מאוד יפה, אשר הזכיר לי סוג של "מיני גוגנהיים".אבכלל, מוזיאונים מחוץ לתל אביב מוצאים חן בעיני, ואחרי שכבר הייתי במוזיאון פתח תקוה ובבת ים, היעד הבא הוא ביקור במוזיאון אשדוד בתערוכה "מבנים נכלמים, מבנים נחלמים".ב
"יחידות", מוזיאון בת ים, עד ה-13.02.2010א

Noodle

2009-11-14T20:42:00.000+02:00

A few days ago I rented an Israeli movie called "Noodle" from my neighborhood DVD library. It was the first time I watched this film. "Noodle" is a beautiful movie, a story about family, communication, and love. So, if you haven't watched it already, I recommend! Plus, it's a nice film for the rainy days (if they ever come back).

Have a lovely week.
Sarah

Ame 72 at Kishon Gallery

2009-11-07T19:00:00.000+02:00

This week is the last chance to see the solo exhibition for urban artist Ame 72 at Kishon Gallery. Ame 72 is known for his Lego figures so it's therefore not surprising that the exhibition is called "Let's Go".

His work always make me smile and this is why I have my very own print at home :)

You can watch the video interview of Ame 72 on Arterview (click on the image to watch) for more information about this really cool artist!

Sommer Gallery and Rothschild 12

2009-10-31T11:44:00.010+02:00

Wednesday night was the celebration event for Sommer Gallery's 10 years of existence. In honor of the 10 years, an exhibition regrouping all the artists who have ever participated in a show at Sommer, was on display. Funnily, even some of the works presented at this show had a feel of celebration to them:

The event at Sommer gallery was really nice and a success, so much that we couldn't make it to the after party on the roof of the French Institute! Too many people were waiting in the long line! So we went to Rothschild 12 instead, drunk Cava in honor of Sommer Gallery, and took pictures of Rufina's stylish shoes.

Rufina, Yael and I (the "Arterview" team):

The shoes:

Have a peaceful week.

Save the dates- Art in Tel Aviv

2009-10-27T14:25:00.012+02:00

Hi guys! I just wanted to recommend to you a few arty events for the coming days:

Wednesday (tomorrow!): Sommer Gallery is celebrating 10 years with two exhibitions. The first exhibition will be with all the artists who have ever participated in an exhibition at the gallery. The second show is called "The Invisible Hand" and the participating artists will be Efrat Kedem, Sharon Fadida, Roee Rosen, Harald Thys and Jos de Gruyter.
Sommer Gallery, Rothschild 13, from 8pm
Closing date: 12.12.09

Thursday (29.10.09): Michal Budny at Dvir Gallery's new space at the Jaffa Port (this is where I work by the way). Polish artist Michal Budny will present his installation in this exhibition called "Beginning". Come say hi :)
Dvir Gallery, Jaffa Port, Hangar 2, from 8pm
Closing date: 12.12.09

Michal Budny, "Beginning"

Thursday (29.10.09): After Dvir Gallery, continue your night at the second edition of the Art Attack Party called "Liquid".
24 Sa'adia Ganon, 10th floor, rooftop, From 10 pm until 5 am

Have a look at the photos from the last party:

Next Thursday (05.11.09): Don't miss the project Markivim exhibition organized by Dafna Talmon. (Read more about the project here)
Kastiel House, 36 Alfasi Street, Tel Aviv. From 8 pm
Closing date: 12.11.09

Hope you'll have fun.
Any more recommendations?

xoxOHSOARTY

FACEing the ==>GUEST<== City... Vienna

2009-10-23T13:02:00.005+02:00

My good friend Mathieu has sent me some great photos, that he took this summer, of street art in Vienna. Check them out:

Thank you Mathieu!

A day with my blogger mom in Tel Aviv

2009-10-21T10:24:00.011+02:00

For the last few days my life has been intense. I started university again, it has been so hot here it's not even funny, the air conditioning decided to stop working, I had unresolved issues and I didn't have time to sleep. Ok, who am I fooling? I love being busy, I love having an intense life, and I love complaining apparently!

I also always try to stay positive! And so far, I did have great moments this week. I attended a lovely English-speaking bloggers evening organised by Miriam (who writes the Israeli Kitchen blog) and Hannah (from A Mother in Israel) in Petach Tikvah. I worked on a new project soon to be revealed. The "Art Galleries in Tel Aviv" Facebook page has been doing well with over 2,800 fans so I opened a new page called "Art Galleries in Europe". I had a date with my grandfather Papou.

But the most fun I had was with my mom when we did a Tel Avivian day together and took lots of pictures for our blogs (she writes a blog in French called KefIsrael). As always, it was great and surprising!

We decided to visit the Gan Hachashmal area, an emerging nighborhood in South Tel Aviv, where all the cool kids live. It is very arty indeed.

There are a number of nice boutiques there, selling designer clothes, accessories, beads, vintage clothes and so on.

I satisfied my earrings obsession, and bought a new pair with a piece of leather incorporated in them, in an accessories shop where all the items have leather in them:

Bags by Mal Leather Design:

My new earring:

Then we took our aperitif at a new cafe called "Segal" where we drunk orange and carrot juice:

But we were still hungry so we went a bit further to a restaurant on Yeudah Halevy street 93, called "Geroge". The salads there are amazing:

As I've probably said before, what I love about Tel Aviv is that there are many hidden corners like this beautiful synagogue we stumbled upon:

Merci maman for this fabulous blogger day!

OH SO YUMMY - Toto

2009-10-19T03:34:00.003+02:00

Category: gourmet restaurant

Welcome back to Oh So Yummy, the food section of my blog- because for me food is also a form of art!

Here is my confession of the day... I have a food tradition, after every Video Art Night at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art I go eat at Toto, an Italian restaurant situated just behind the museum. I love this place for its amazing food and its intimate atmosphere.

I've noticed that recurrent ingredients used at Toto include eggs, chestnuts, and mushrooms. The first and third time at Toto, we ordered for starters the asparagus with the celery, eggs and mushrooms sauce which is unforgettable. At our second visit, we tried the roast beef with an egg salad which was also a delicious starter.

What do I recommend for the main dish? Good question- I personally love the chestnut and truffle gnocchi (surprise surprise)!

Toto is also great because daily changing courses are on offer, they are written on a large blackboard and are always tempting.

The only disappointment is the desert menu, which is much too sophisticated for me.

My overall mark: Excellent!

Marking legend: thumbs up- Excellent; big smile- Very Good; neutral face- Not bad; sad face- Disappointing; thumbs down- FAIL!

Toto, 4 Berkovich street, Tel Aviv, 03-6935151

Photos: Asaf Ravid

Blu and David Ellis

2009-10-18T01:04:00.005+02:00

Remember I told you about my new friend Claire? Well she sent me a link to this animation by Blu and David Ellis. Truly amazing!

COMBO a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis (2 times loop) from blu on Vimeo.

Have a great week!

FACEing the City

2009-10-15T23:59:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I forget my camera at home and I see street art that I just HAVE to photograph, so I use my phone... here are my recent findings from the streets of Tel Aviv:

Drella: The Art Attack Party

2009-10-14T14:45:00.003+02:00

For the past few months I have been attending a monthly event called Video Art Nights at the Tel Aviv Museum, a mix of easy partying and video art. The first one was with Michal Rovner, the second with Hila Lulu Lin and the last event was with Sigalit Landau. Every single night was really fun with great art, people and atmosphere.

Luckily this month it is happening again, but this time in a new location at the Meyerhoff Center of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (Dubnov St. 8). The event is called "Drella: The Art Attack Party" and it will be inspired, as mentioned on the invitation, by "Andy Warhol and its unique blend of art, video, music and pop superstars"... sounds promising! Here is a link to the Facebook event.

(note that the event will start at 22:00)

Here are photos from the last event with Sigalit Landau, just so you can get a taste:

Many thanks to the amazing Asaf Ravid for the photos.

The Facehunter... spotted in Tel Aviv

2009-10-13T23:00:00.003+02:00

I think it is about time I introduce to you my friends Yael and Rufina with who I am currently working on a new exciting project (to be revealed soon). They are both ambitious and talented young ladies so keep them in mind, as you will soon hear about them again here!

Rufina and Yael chilling at LaLaLand, Gordon Beach:

Anyway, this weekend I spent quite a lot of time with Yael, Rufina, Sefi from Way Too Yellow and Yvan Rodic from Facehunter. As part of his 80 days round the world trip Yvan Rodic, aka the Facehunter, spent a few days here in Tel Aviv. We went out with him to a few cool places such as the Nanuchka, Rothschild 12 and the Breakfast Club and on Saturday we took him to the beach.

Rufina and the hunter:

As I've said before I'm always thankful to my blog and other social media tools that allow me to meet arty people from all over the world.

Don't miss Yvan Rodic's visual impressions of Tel Aviv in his personal blog.

The Israel Photo Festival

2009-10-11T20:40:00.003+02:00

As promised, here are pics from the Israel Photography Festival which took place this last week at the Station site in Neve Tzedek. This location dates back to the end of the 19th century and used to host the railway which connected Jaffa to Jerusalem. Today it is being renovated and will soon become a cultural and commercial centre.

As part of the event, eight exhibitions were divided between the different spaces of the old station. One of the shows even took place in a old railroad car:

The first exhibition I visited was "Photographer-Curator", where eleven Israeli photographers curated small exhibitions and presented their work along other artists' photographs. The idea is great but it is a shame that it was so hot inside- it was unbearable. Here are a couple of pictures from one of these 'micro-exhibitions' called "Between Photojournalism and Fine Art Photography" and curated by Oded Balilty.

Maya Hasson, Untitled, 2009, digital print:

Oded Balilty, Untitled, 2008, digital print:

Another exhibition in the festival, called "Last Summer" and curated by Aya Lurie, explored the associations and issues surrounding the end of Summer.

Miki Kratsman, from the series "Suburbia 2005-2007", 2005, digital print:

Aliza Auerbach, Grey, from the series "The Song from the Sea", 2008, unprocessed digital print:

One of the photographs displayed in this exhibition was really powerful, a woman lying on one of the most typical objects in Israel- the 'dud shemesh' (the solar water heating).

Hinda Weiss, City Sacrifice, 2008, digital print:

This part of the festivall looked very nice and professional until I got to these works...

...as it seemed to me that their inclusion was a last minute decision.

All in all I enjoyed the festival very much and especially its location, although there was a surplus of works on display which left me feel a bit overwhelmed.

Yehudit Sasportas, Cosmic Rifts

2009-10-08T01:36:00.002+02:00

Social media in general and blogging in particular are great means of meeting new people with the same interests. This week for instance I have met up with Claire from Marseille, with who I had chatted at the gallery where I work and who later contacted me through the blog.

We decided to visit the exhibition Yehudit Sasportas- Cosmic Rifts, which I loved. The exhibition which takes place at Sommer Gallery, presents new works by Sasportas including video installations and drawings. For me the climax of the show is the dark room with the work "GHARDY, Local Voices". Indeed, it completely impacts the visitors' senses- their vision, as the space is so dark and because of the slow moving images of forest and swamp landscapes; their feeling as their body helps them find their way, and their hearing because of the repetitive music. The whole show made me feel almost hypnotized.

In this exhibition Sasportas really draws the spectators into a mysterious world, into another realm, a cosmic one.

Exhibition through October 24th at Sommer Gallery (Rothschild Blvd. 13)

Yeudit Sasportas, from the series "Cosmic Rifts", 2009:

Yehudit Sasportas. from the work "GHARDY Local Voices", 2009:

All photos are taken from here.

News and Arty plans for Sukkot in Tel Aviv

2009-10-01T15:33:00.006+02:00

Hi readers!

Just wanted to let you know that you can read two guest posts of mine, one on Israeli Wine direct and the other one on greenprophet. In the first post you'll discover why I love street art (you might also want to read the comments I got for it) and in the second, a review on an exhibition that took place at the Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market).

I also wanted to share with you my arty plans for this Sukkot holiday which is almost here!

I'm going to attend three exciting (I hope!) events:

The 2nd Herzlyia Biennial (03.10.2009 - 10.10.2009):

The biennial is curated and designed by Adi Englman, Meir Kordevani and Toony Navok, editors and publisher of "Picnic" Magazine. The opening event will take place this Saturday and will start at 7.30 pm with a live performance by Pil and Galia Kollectiv.

==> Facebook invitation.

The Israel Photo Festival (03.10.2009 - 08.10.2009):

The festival will be held at the beautiful Station site (Hatachana) in Neve Zedek. A number of exhibitions will take place including a joint exhibition for Israeli photographer Micha Bar-Am and Robert Capa.

==> Facebook Invitation.

Stefan Constantinescu's solo show at Gal-On Art Place (03.10.2009 - 27.10.2009)

Curated by Carin Lundqvist, the exhibition "The Golden Age" presents paintings, installations, video works, and objects by Constantinescu (who is also representing Romania at this year's Venice Biennial).

==> Facebook Invitation.

Stay tuned for photos and thoughts about the events, which I'll post here!

Hag Sameach!

Leonard Cohen in Israel

2009-09-30T19:22:00.003+02:00

A week ago I went to see Leonard Cohen's concert at the Ramat Gan stadium. The show was amazing and memorable! Luckily my father created a video with highlights from the night for my mother's blog, Kef Israel, so you can see what the atmosphere was like:

At the end of the night, Cohen blessed the 50 000 spectators with the Kohanim blessing:

May YHWH bless you and guard you – יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ

May YHWH make His face shine on you and show favor to you – יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ

May YHWH lift up His face on you and give you peace – יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

Kindred Times and Future Goodbyes

2009-09-25T09:12:00.003+03:00

Kindred Times and Future Goodbyes is an alternative exhibition presenting the artistic collaboration between Foma ♥ , Klone, Know Hope and Zero Cents, in an abandoned house located in the south of Tel Aviv. The artists explore the issue of memory- of past, present and future times combined. This is also what is explained in the text accompanying the show: "The wall paintings are a new periodic layer of paint that add on to the already existing peeled layers of time. (...) Although the new layer of paint created for this exhibition is soon to become covered with new layers of a renovated building, it is added to a pool of memories which can't be evaded and enriches it, when it is bound to be preserved between layers of past and future times."

The artists used wall paintings, texts and an installation with stones and candles, which reminded me of a memorial. I really enjoyed reading the poetic texts on the walls and for some reason I especially liked this part:

Here are some more images from the show:

See more images here and details about the exhibition here.

Shana Tova

2009-09-18T15:17:00.011+03:00

This evening we celebrate the Jewish new year. I wish all my readers a shana tova, a good year, full of art, happiness, good health, surprising and exciting moments.

The new year always makes me think about time: the past year and the year that's around the corner. I remember the happy times I had this year coming back to Tel Aviv, being surrounded with my amazing family and the people I love. On this day I feel even more nostalgic about life than usually: I think about the people I wish I could see and talk to everyday, like my friends abroad and my family in France. I think about Leon, my late grandfather who I miss every single day.

I can't explain it but Know Hope's work kind of sums up how I feel, nostalgic and optimistic at the same time:

(video via Tel Aviv Street Art blog)

FACEing the City

2009-09-16T10:13:00.008+03:00

Know Hope:

Inspire:

DEDE:

Adi Sened:

Klone:

Note: when I know the name of the street artist I put a link below the photo, and if I don't I just leave it blank.

Adi Sened's open studio

2009-09-14T18:29:00.017+03:00

The Month of Art in Tel Aviv started last weekend. For this occasion, over 200 artists opened their studio. I decided to go pay a visit to Adi Sened whose work I had seen in the streets and on Facebook. Adi Sened creates what he call "Kufsonim" ("Kufsa" in hebrew means a box) which are small geometrical cute creatures. Sened studied architecture and this can really be seen in his work.

So, on Saturday we arrived to Sened's studio which is located on a rooftop in Tel Aviv. There were works of art and materials everywhere: on the doors, on the floor, on the fridge and on the walls. Sened was very welcoming and told us about his work.

Among Adi's creations are works on canvas:

Prints:

and magnets:

Sened often uses recycled materials such as cardboards:

corks:

and street signs:

Adi Sened also creates vessels in clay which are rounded and seem very different from the squared kufsonim. In a way, however, they complement each other.

The climax of the visit was when we decided to buy a piece from Adi. After an hour of hesitations we chose two works: one representing a couple of small kufsowariors and the other, two happy kufsobirds:

ARTTLV 2009

2009-09-12T10:41:00.011+03:00

Almost a year ago I started this blog. My first posts were about the first Tel Aviv Biennale, also known as ArtTLV. 11 months later, on Wednesday night, I had the chance to attend the official opening ceremony of ArtTLV's second edition which took place in Neve Tzedek. The beginning of the Bienale which will last until the 23rd of September also marks the celebration of the "Month of Art" in Tel Aviv. ArtTLV's curators this year are Edna Moshenson, Maayan Sheleff and Michael Kessus Gedalyovich. The main exhibition is called "Universal Circus LTD. - City Performances" and takes place at the Neve Tzedek Tower site. Additional exhibitions and events, such as the show "Opening- Four Openings in Israeli Art" at Bezalel Gallery and "Second Show- Contemporary Art from the Israel Museum Jerusalem'" at Beit Mani, are held accross the city.

The opening event:

Photo credit: Dafna Talmon

One installation at ArtTLV, called "Pchechong" is really fun. It consists of an elevated geometrical construction with three openings for the viewers' heads and a performance. Once inside the installation a surprising and refreshing experience awaits the visitors.

The very cool Pchechong:

Photo credit: Dafna Talmon

Going out of the Pchechong:

Photo credit: Dafna Talmon

During the opening event I stumbled upon the lovely Dafna Talmon who took a picture of me for her project Markivim:

Photo credit: Dafna Talmon

ArtTLV, until the 23rd of September

"Matrix Tel Aviv" Part 4

2009-09-02T10:15:00.007+03:00

As part of my new project which started on my 100th post, I have already interviewed Anael (11 years old), Mimi (87 years old) and Giles who told us why they love Tel Aviv.

Today it is Daniel Klein's turn to give us his 10 reasons for loving Tel Aviv (Age: 30; Years in Tel Aviv: 2 years; Country of origin: USA; Occupation: Designer, Artist, and weekly blogger for Tchochkes):

1. My neighborhood (kerem hateimanim/nachalat binyamin).

2. The beach of course.

3. Shuq hakarmel.

4. Carrot-ginger juice from the kiosk at hakarmel 16.

5. Awesome street art.

6. Bike-riding on the tayelet and in park hayarkon.

7. Sabich at 2, Tchernichovsky St.

8. Mazzarine.

9. Hot boys are everywhere I turn.

10. My dog is allowed just about every place I am.

TLV: Abstracted, 2008, digital print, by Daniel Klein:

Many thanks Daniel!

Guest post by Vanessa Nicholas

2009-08-29T09:52:00.002+03:00

Vanessa graduated last year with an MA from the Courtauld Institue of Art in London. She is currently working at the Venice Biennale.

Affectionately referred to as the art world’s Olympics, the Venice Biennale has historically been defined as an event that gives countries the opportunity to showcase their finest cultural product. This year, however, the idea of cultural nationalism is being challenged by many participants.

Canada, for example, is represented by Mark Lewis, a filmmaker celebrated for his innovative and imaginative approach to the medium. The first of the four films on display is Nathan Phillips Square, A Winter’s Night, Skating (2009) (click on the title to see the film). We see a couple skating – they embrace and spin, staring into each other’s eyes. The viewer is hypnotized by the romantic scene, as well as by the uneasy vibration that occurs between the foreground and the background as a result of Lewis’s use of rear projection technology, a old Hollywood technique that allows actors to be filmed in front of a previously shot background.

Mark Lewis, Nathan Phillips Square, A Winter's Night, Skating, 2009, video still, (photo credit: Mark Lewis Studio)

If they don’t immediately recognize Nathan Phillips Square, Canadians visiting the pavilion will at least identify with the familiar scene of ice-skating. This kind of cultural identification also defined the space two years ago when David Altmejd’s sculptural installation transformed the pavilion into what felt like a miniature surrealist wilderness refuge. Interestingly, Canada is one of the few countries at the Biennale that seems attached to cultural clichés. Even the Canadian pavilion party on the night of 4 June circulated around an (admittedly ironic) Algonquin Tiki Tiki Hut, which was erected by the Canadian artist group Reverse Pedegogy.

That being said, the exhibition ultimately contests the idea of cultural nationalism. Lewis’s use of rear projection technology, which results in a completely manufactured world, can be interpreted as a comment on national identity as a construct. Especially when one considers that the skaters were filmed against a projection of the Nathan Phillips Sqaure scene in Los Angeles on a rotating stage. The issue is further complicated by the fact that Mark Lewis himself, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, has relocated to London, England.

Lewis' work is tapped into the general pulse of the Biennale, whose other participants seem equally preoccupied with the question of cultural nationalism. Take the Canadian pavilion’s neighbours as examples. The British pavilion features a film by Steve McQueen that was shot in the Giardini this past winter. It shows the pavilions, which function as pseudo embassies during the Biennale, as neglected empty shells. Meanwhile, Germany has chosen Liam Gillick, a non-resident, non-German artist as it’s representative. Gillick is an English artist that works in London and New York.

Steve McQueen, Giardini, Venice Biennale 2009, (photos credit: British Council)

Close-by are the Danish and Nordic pavilions, which have teamed up to present The Collectors, the first collaboration between two pavilions in the Biennale’s history. The project was curated and staged by the artist duo, Elmgreen & Dragset. Both pavilions have been transformed into impressive homes. The Danish pavilion is ‘For Sale’ and the Nordic pavilion acts as the home of the prospective buyer’s mysterious would be neighbour, Mr. B. The accompanying pamphlet claims that The Collectors was “initiated with the intention of dismantling the national representation model, designating instead a transnational neighbourhood within the Giardini area.”

With the traditional boundaries of the Venice Biennale format being pushed more than ever before, one can only speculate what the future will bring for this exhibition.

Vanessa (in the center) drinking prosecco near the canal with her friends!

Thank you very much Vanessa and enjoy your stay in Venice :)

Art Party at the Tel Aviv Museum with Hila Lulu Lin

2009-08-25T08:45:00.004+03:00

A few weeks ago I attended the second edition of the Tel Aviv Museum's video nights which takes place every month at the museum's sculpture garden. This time the participating artist was Hila Lulu Lin who exhibited several videos. Many people attended and I have to say I enjoyed this night even more than the first one with Michal Rovner (maybe because this time was much cooler thanks to the big ventilators!).

One issue Hila Lulu Lin seems to explore in her videos is her body and its reaction to pain and aggressiveness. In one of the works for example she perforates her very long nails while holding a stone, and then sews it with a red thread. In the most prominently displayed work, she eats her red peppers-covered fingers.

I recommend these video nights to all my readers and friends as you get a one-night only chance to see art by great Israeli artists while having a drink and meeting new people. I really look forward to the next edition with Sigalit Landau and which will be held on the 17th of September.

Works by Hila Lulu Lin:

Enjoying my drink while chilling at the sculpture garden:

Kishon Gallery- the reopening!

2009-08-11T23:18:00.000+03:00

Kishon Art Gallery has reopened its doors after 4 years of closure, under the direction of Renana Kishon, daughter of writer Ephraim Kishon and gallery owner Sara Kishon.

The first exhibition which ends on August 15th is a group show presenting the works of Ruthi Helbitz Cohen, Ruth Barabash and Orly Azran. I particularly liked Azran's work, which records in a way the process of creating and also explores the relation between imagery and language.

The space of the gallery is also great: simple and beautiful with a charming back garden.

In September the official opening will take place at the gallery with a show which I am very much excited about (and on which I will write about closer to the date!).

Work by Orly Azran:

Works by Ruth Helbitz:

Work by Ruth Barabash:

Renana and her assistant Rufina at the opening:

Read an article about Renana here.

#1 Summer show, Kishon Gallery, 2 Frug St., Tel Aviv, until August 15th

FACEing the ==>Guest<== City... Brussels

2009-08-03T16:12:00.000+03:00

Many thanks to Sarah Van Parys who always sends her latest coolest findings!

If you have photos of street art from your city, you are invited to send them to me and I will post them here!

תודה רבה לשרה ון פריס שתמיד שולחת את המציאות המגניבות שלה היישר מרחובות בריסל! כ

יש לכם תמונות של אמנות רחוב מהעיר שלכם? שילחו אותם אלי ואני אפרסם אותם פה!כ

"Matrix Tel Aviv" Part 3

2009-08-01T12:15:00.000+03:00

I wanted to make a special series for Tel Aviv's Centennial Year on the blog. Therefore, during the next few weeks I will post interviews of different people. I will ask them what are the ten things/reasons for which they love Tel Aviv. 10 people x 10 reasons= TLV 100! Of course some of the reasons will overlap so by the end of the 10 interviews, I will make a matrix of the answers and we will find out which are the top 10 reasons.

As part of my new project which started on my 100th post, I have already interviewed Anael (11 years old) and Mimi (87 years old) who told us why they love Tel Aviv.

Today, it is Giles's turn to reveal the 10 things he loves in Tel Aviv (Years in Tel Aviv: 3 years; Country of origin: UK; Occupation: CEO at Dynamic Music Limited):

The beautiful ladies.
The beach.
Cafe Noir.
The thriving social scene.
Tel Aviv University outdoor swimming pool.
Sabich at 2, Tchernichovsky St.
The rooftop bar at Susanna in Neve Tzedek.
The climate.
Ha'Pizza on Bugrashov Street.
Clara beach bar.

Giles drinking coffee at cafe Shine:

Thank you Giles!

My Friend Hadass / חברתי הדס

2009-07-26T18:00:00.004+03:00

My Tel Aviv experience without my friend Hadass Springut would have been completely different and surely much less exciting and fun. I've known Hadass for almost a year now and I can say that she is one of the happiest, full of life person that I have ever known. Moreover, below this seeming happiness, there are many more layers to discover. Sensitivity, sensibilty, generosity and a special point of view on life are just a few of these layers which can be seen in her photographs. From her pictures of landscapes, to her still lives, without forgetting her portraits of people and photos of animals, Hadass succeeds in capturing both unusual and common moments in life

Her subjects are simple yet poetic: a boy sitting on a bench and playing the guitare while a begar looks at him, a religious man talking to an old woman, or a father and his son waiting on a bike. Hadass always creates stories in her works but leaves a part of the story to the viewer's own interpretation, even when photographing a sculpture or a flower.

However, the photos of people are those which move me the most, when she manages to catch in such a poetic way common daily life scenes. Pictures of couples, children, working people and friends preoccupied with their daily life, are where her sensibility is really revealed:

החוויה התל אביבית שלי ללא חברתי הדס הייתה לגמרי שונה, ואני בטוחה שגם הרבה פחות מרגשת וכיפית אילו לא היינו מכירות. אני מכירה את הדס כבר כמעט שנה ואני יכולה לומר שהיא אחת הנשים הכי שמחות ומלאות חיים שאי פעם הכרתי. בנוסף, מתחת למראה המאושר הזה מסתתרים עוד הרבה רבדים, כמו רגישות, נדיבות ונקודת מבט שונה ומיוחדת על החיים. תכונות אלו ניתן למצוא בצילומיה. הדס מצליחה לתפוס בתמונותיה רגעים יוצאי דופן וכן גם רגעים פשוטים של החיים.ה

הנושאים אותם היא מצלמת פשוטים אך גם מלאים בפיוטיות: ילד יושב על ספסל ומנגן בגיטרה בזמן שקבצן מביט בו, גבר חרדי מדבר עם אישה מבוגרת, או אב ובנו מחכים על האופניים. הדס תמיד מצליחה ליצור סיפור בתמונותיה, אפילו בצילום של פסל או פרח, אך גם משאירה את חלק מהסיפור לדימיונם של הצופים.ד

התמונות בהן הדס מצלמת אנשים הן אלו שהכי מרגשות אותי. בתמונות אלו היא שוב מצליחה לתפוס בצורה כה פואטית סצנות פשוטות מהיום-יום. בצילומיה של זוגות, ילדים, אנשים עובדים וחברים עסוקים בחייהם ובמעשיהם, הרגישות שלה באמת נחשפת:כ

"I want you to notice when I'm not around":

אהבת חסד": כ"

"Joy":

"Noam":

"White in a Black Dream":

לבן בחלום שחור":ג"

"Closeness":

"Through Your Eyes":

"A Secular Prayer":

תפילה חילונית": ג"

"A Local Cinderella":

סינדרלה מקומית":כ"

"Sarah": (that would be me!)

All photos are by Hadass Springut and all rights are reserved to her.

To see more photos by Hadass click here.

בכדי ליראות תמונות נוספות של הדס, ליחצו כאן. ד

Have a great week :)

שבוע טוב לכולם!ד

STAGES

2009-07-25T17:03:00.013+03:00

While writing this post, my boyfriend Asaf is sitting in the other room and watching the Tour de France. He admires Lance Armstrong so much because of his life story, strength and courage.

I don't like watching the Tour and almost every time I watch it, I end up falling asleep because of the speaker's monotonous voice. However, as you know, I love art. So when I heard about the project "Nike Stages" I was so happy to see an inspiring exhibition that merges our two passions: cycling and art. "Stages" is a global exhibition which was inspired by Lance Armstrong and which is dedicated to the fight against cancer. Over 20 artists have created works of art which are all available to purchase. Importantly, all proceeds from the event will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

One of the art works that drew my attention when I read the Stages website, was this portrait called "Jessica" by artist Shepard Fairey, because of the story behind it which you can read here, and its urban art quality:

Photo via Stages.

Click the picture above to watch the video with plenty of information on the event! [recommended!]

Stages, until 8 August 2009 at the Galeries Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris

True Colors 2009

2009-07-24T09:00:00.003+03:00

Last week I went to the opening of the group exhibition "True Colors 2009- 100 Identities" at Shorashim Gallery in Tel Aviv. I was invited by ceramic artist Samy D. who is very active on the social media front and who donated a work for the show (like the 34 other artists who donated their art works.) The evening was also a fundraising event for the national association of GLBT in Israel.

I really enjoyed some of the art in the exhibition, and it was a pleasure to see works by famous Israeli artists such as Ilana Goor, Miriam Cabessa and David Adika who all explored the question of identity in their works for this exhibition.

"True Colours 2009" ends on this upcoming Saturday with a cocktail at Shorashim gallery at 20.00!

Highlights from the exhibition:

Natan Elkanovich, Love in the Air:

Detail:
Raffi Dayagi, 02:00

Ilana Goor, Woman Bird:

Samy D., Querelle:

Detail:

Oren Albaz, Untitled:

Miriam Cabessa, Line:

All photos were taken by Hadass Springut, who is herself a great artist.

"True Colours 2009- 100 Identities", Shorashim Gallery, until July 25th 2009