'Knowledge Gap.' Odelia Gal
אודליה גל
New: Postcard exhibit on homophobia
Exhibition at Tel Aviv's Gross Gallery presents postcards of 22 artists on topic of homophobia. Curator Ziv Tidhar, 'Homophobia is alive and kicking in Israel, regardless of the murder'
"Cusomophobia," an exclusive exhibit of postcards addressing the issue of homophobia, is opening Thursday at the Gross Gallery in Tel Aviv.
The exhibit presents the works of 22 artists from various disciplines presenting 24 postcards using a uniform format and size, each one presenting homophobia and its manifestations in the Israeli discourse, especially after the August massacre at a gay youth club in Tel Aviv.
'Woah. I could die' - Ziv Tidhar
Ziv Tidhar, the curator of the exhibit that also includes two of his works, claims that the recent murder was only one of many motivations for the exhibit. "It is not the murder at the gay and lesbian youth center that proves that homophobia in Israel is alive and kicking, but the responses to it sharpened the discussion of the ever-updating boundaries between incitement and freedom of expression."
Tidhar added the phenomenon of homophobia is a manifestation of the increasing violence in Israel and the show of hatred and lack of tolerance towards minorities and marginal groups in the society.
'Amplitude' - Gal Barzilay
"The name of the exhibit 'Cusomophobia' is an expression of the disgust towards rising verbal violence, as well as the lack of tolerance and the loathing directed towards some segments of Israeli society, and towards members of the community, the discussion of whose rights is perceived as superfluous and bothersome," explained Tidhar.
Tidhar claims that the murder not only brought gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals out of the closet, but the entire Israeli society as well sat in comfort and insolence in the closet of apathy. The exhibit seeks to continue to spark discussion of homophobia and its implications in Israel 2009 and to do so from social, political, and personal perspectives.
'Be Fruitful and Multiply' - Avi Rose
As part of his role as curator, Tidhar chose to show the artists' work on postcards because this format is capable of sending a piercing message without pointing fingers. The works will bring attention to the gay community's inability to get married or adopt children in Israel, the personal struggle with sexual identity, acts of homophobia, and feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety following the murder.
The art pieces examine homophobia from various perspectives on both the personal and the public levels, some touching upon the personal and the intimate and others referring to social existence.
Included in the pieces being shown are: Naomi Shalev's "Come on. Let's Go Back to the Ghetto" – clay and digital photography; Odelia Gal "Knowledge Gap" – watercolors on paper; Avi Rose "Be Fruitful and Multiply" – watercolors and digital processing.
Other artists showing at the exhibit include: Rafi Peretz, Gal Barzilay, Anat Bandori, Imri Kalman, Yael Koren, Aya Hoveras, Tamar Danieli, Liav Mizrahi, Adi Reznik, and Almar Schmidt.
The exhibit will be shown until November 10.
