FRANCE / PARIS : "LÀ-BAS" VIDÉO DE 9 ARTISTES ISRAÉLIENS

until Sunday July 15 2012
Maison Européenne de la Photographie
5/7 rue de Fourcy
75004 Paris
France

T : +33 (0)1 44 78 75 00
F : +33 (0)1 44 78 75 15
www.mep-fr.org

The exhibition Là-bas at la Maison européenne de la photographie, present the work of nine israelians artists : Nira Pereg, Sigalit Landau, Nir Evron, Rona Yefman, Yael Bartana, Talya Keinan, Tom Pnini, Daniel Landau and Tamir Zadok.
It is said that in an aesthetic conception of art, the language used must be universal. The different videos presented in the exhibition entitled "Là-bas" (Over There) show us that this is far from the case. The Other, whom we think we know, can actually be a perfect stranger, and the words he speaks can be nothing but incomprehensible noise.

The anthropological function of contemporary art takes visitors into a far-off realm that they have heard of but never actually seen. "Là-bas" (Over There) gives us the opportunity to see with our own eyes, to experience participative observation, and to "pitch our tent in the middle of the village", to paraphrase the beautiful words of the father of anthropology, Bronislaw Malinowski.

Pitching their tents" was indeed what thousands of Tel-Aviv residents did in the summer of 2011 to show their indignation vis-a-vis their leaders, and to state their desire to change the social system of their country. The nine artists presented in "Là-bas" come from a diverse society that is the focus of much discussion, and where everyone can express their own point of view of a common culture. Our aim in this exhibition is also to show this other aspect of Israel. (…)

This exhibition tries to show another reality that is Israel. "Là-bas" refers to a population to which these artists belong and which challenges and calls into question the society they live in. The videos presented here seek neither to apportion blame nor to provide excuses; instead they place us face-to-face with our responsibility for our own lives. The Israeli writer Amos Oz suggested "divorce" and the creation of two states side by side: a situation where there would be no obligation to love each other, just an obligation to coexist and to respect all aspects of the Other, including his inaccessible "foreign-ness".

Wherever "Over There" happens to be, the "Others" who live there know things that we can never know. Contemporary art, in its anthropological role, reflects society in the most direct, sensitive way possible. Are artists not artisans who dare to fashion their works based on the secrets of our lives? What we find "over there" is certainly not an illusory understanding of others, but the opportunity to draw the energy we need to resume our own journey from the inspiration of the artist.

We can then take down our tent and return "home"; but our spirits will have been transformed by the experience.

Curator Marie Shek

In parallel with the exhibition "Ici" at galerie Michel Rein
With Maayan Amir & Ruti Sela, Joseph Dadoune, Nir Evron, Raafat Hattab, Nira Pereg, Public Movement. Curator Marie Shek.

Also showing : Sigalit Laudau "Madonna and child" at galerie Kamel Mennour