Hi there,
A new contemporary art exhibition has opened with the re-opening of the Botanical Garden on October 19th, 2020, at the initiative of the University Botanical Garden in Jerusalem in collaboration with the Outset Fund for Contemporary Art.
The new exhibition, 'Returning to Nature' curated by Hadas Maor, includes around 15 large sculptures by leading contemporary artists that have been specially adapted to the display conditions in the garden. Among the artwork on display are iconic works by Menashe Kadishman and Dani Karavan, works by established artists such as Tsibi Geva, Yehudit Sasports and Sigalit Landau, and works by younger artists such as Ella Littwitz, Yaara Zach, Saher Miari, Moshe Roas and more.
WHEN: Oct 19th-Nov 30th, 2020
Curator: Hadas Maor
Participating artists (in order A-B): Eitan Ben Moshe, Yaakov Dorchin, Maya Dunietz, Tsibi Geva, Eli Gur Arie, Menashe Kadishman, Dani Karavan, Sigalit Landau, Ella Littwitz, Saher Miari, Moshe Roas, Yehudit Sasportas, Yaara Zach, Guy Zagursky.
There are also two new works which were produced especially for the exhibition and in congruence with the garden space. One of the works is a new sound work by Maya Dunietz, in response to the sounds of the garden. The other, is the first presentation in Israel of a chapter from the 'Liquid Desert' project by Yehudit Sasportas, the first part of which was shown in Germany in January 2019.
Hadas Maor the curator commented: "the title of the project indicates a return to the outside after a long period of closure due to the outbreak of the corona virus, but also a dimension of return to nature present in the local sculptural language. In this context, the project reveals constant movement between works that rely on the use of defined outlines and heavy materials like iron or bronze, and works that use synthetic materials like rubber, latex or polyester as well as softened and rounded forms.."
Maor also notes "Following the eruption of the coronavirus pandemic, institutions and cultural centers around the world were forced to stop their activities. The fact that the exhibition at the Botanical Garden was formed during this period, despite the huge uncertainty about its very existence, is particularly noteworthy. This initiative values cultural action and real support for the local art field, both from the botanical garden and from the Outset Fund for Contemporary Art."
In light of the current period and the corona crisis, the possibilities of spending time in open spaces is particularly important. The botanical garden, which covers 120 dunams, is the largest garden in Israel and the only one of its kind in the Middle East. Therefore, the general public can walk around the garden freely and without fear. Spending time in nature allows observation, and provides relaxation, peace and balance for the soul.
The placement of the various works will be spread throughout the gardens in visible and hidden spaces, and will create a circular walking path where the plants, as well as the sculptures, are discovered by the visitor while in motion. Some of the works have a formal, material and narrative dialogue with the plants around them, and others retain their foreignness. Together the various works will present a rich and layered prism of local sculptural work.
Guided tours and activities in the exhibition will take place later.
A Virtual Tour of the Exhibition
Taking into account the current COVID-19 crisis and in order to enable those in isolation to experience the exhibition, an excellent virtual tour as well as free educational resources have been built for online perusal. These also allow people outside Israel to enjoy this collaboration of Israeli artists exhibiting in nature and fosters an international reach of a universally relevant issue.
Educational programs
In parallel to the exhibition, a detailed program of educational activities for schools and groups has been created. Incorporating educational content within the exhibition and promoting the discourse around art in the open space strengthens the connection between nature, a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and art.
It is important to note that the botanical kindergarten works with over 250 schools and kindergartens from all over Jerusalem guiding the teaching staff in the agricultural as well as the pedagogical aspect. Building educational gardens encourages children and their families to grow food, recognize and preserve extinct species and work the land.
Hannah Randall, Executive Director – Strategic Development: "I am proud and excited to add an “outdoor museum” to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens' repertoire. It has been a goal of ours for quite some time. During this pandemic the need to bring artwork and culture outside became even more obvious. Thanks to the Outset Contemporary Art Fund, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Foundation and a number of art collectors and supporters, we were able to move fast enough during the lockdown to create a responsive and exceptional experience. This exhibition marks the first of many such collaborations and artistic initiatives that bring together art, culture and nature.
Exhibition Links:
Admission to the exhibition is included in the price of admission to the garden.
Entrance fee 35 NIS for an adult, free Jerusalem children, 28 NIS for Jerusalem card holders.
Opening hours: Sunday to Saturday 09:00 - 18:00.
To view the virtual tour.
For more details, Givat Ram Botanical Garden 02-6794012 or info@botanic.co.il.
Best,
Talma
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