Jerusalem, Israel - Jan. 30, 2020 - In Jerusalem, Israel, a new exhibition opened at the L.A. Museum for Islamic Art on Jan. 30, 2020. In English, the works by 15 female artists, six of whom are from religious Jewish communities are displayed under the title "Trespassing."
Curator. Dr. Sigal Barkai explained how the art scene in Bezalel Academy and in Israel has changed. In her time as a student in the '80s at Bezalel, the student population was more homogenous, young and secular. Today more religious women are expressing their artistic aspirations.
As one enters the temporary exhibition area the three video screens by Miriam Barzesky of the Bezalel Haredi School fill the wall. From Ofakim, Barzesky went back to rural areas of her innocent youth to film her work. The religious Jewish woman is usually busy, however, here she showed a time by herself perhaps reliving youthful memories.
The exhibition title has different meanings in the three languages, though more sinister in English, the Hebrew - מסיגות גבול - has more a nuanced meaning - pushing boundaries. Pushing boundaries of constrictions in their religious communities is a common theme throughout the works.
Rawan Abu Filat, an albino Muslim woman did her video piece in black and white. Druze artist Amira Ziyan, who refused two engagements, used a traditional red cloth after the wedding in her work.
Hila Karabelnikov-Paz from Bnei Brak creates and paints over layers of tape for a unique visual effect.
From a 1960s photograph of her Australian grandmother, Shira Zelwer used wax to create 3-dimensional images. Her grandmother was surrounded by waiters from her catering business. The detailed figures are placed and displayed in a red velvet diorama. A colorful waxed floral arrangement by Zelwer is also nearby. (Author's note: Having known her wonderful grandmother in her later years, in Australia, this piece was a special attraction of sentimental value.)
Other participating artists, all with fascinating personal stories, some of whose works are included in the photo essay, are Rawan Abu Filat, Fatima Abu Roomi, Andi Arnovitz, Hanna Goldberg, Majda Halabi, Rahmi Hamzi, Leah Leukstein, Yara Mahajena, Hyam Mustafa, Ruba Salameh, and Fatma Shanan.
Opened to the public in 1974, Jerusalem's L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art holds one of the world's foremost collections of Islamic art and valuable antique timepieces. The L.A. Mayer Museum was founded by the late Mrs. Vera Bryce Salomons, who dedicated the Museum to her friend and teacher, Prof. Leo Arie Mayer. Scholars of international renown took part in the establishment of the Museum, attracted to both its research activities and to the challenge of bridging the gap between the two cultures.
