TEL AVIV.- Nassima Landau Art Foundation initiates "Spectrum of Lights," a one-of-a-kind fundraising exhibition with some of the strongest voices in Israeli art today, from emerging to very established, who will show their work following numerous cancellations both locally and abroad.
The exhibition and its proceeds will serve to support the Be'eri Gallery and new arts center (in collaboration with the German government) and the Elem charity organization.
In these polarized days, Nassima Landau intends to provide an opportunity to remind, mostly our international friends, of the diversity of Tel Aviv's cultural scene and Israel's society at large, with 25 artists from an array of ethnic, religious, and gender identities, affirming the power of art and its ability to present a different perspective.
"Spectrum of Lights," Nassima Landau's first grand project featuring only Israeli artists brings a much-needed moment of light and hope as well as support for some of those most affected.
Artists: David Adika, Adee Ardon, Shai Azoulay, Matan Ben Cnaan, Amit Berman, Broken Fingaz, Miriam Cabessa, Aram Gershuni, Assaf Hinden, Nir Hod, Sigalit Landau, Michael Liani, Katia Lifshin, Itay Matan, Karam Natour, Adi Nes, Pilpeled (Nir Peled), Gideon Rubin, Yehudit Sasportas, Fatma Shanan, Nirit Takele, Noa Yafe, Guy Yanai, Natalia Zourabova Zourabova and Beeri Gallery curator Ziva Jelin.
Steeve Nassima founder of Nassima Landau Art Foundation: After moving from Belgium to Israel with my two kids following a personal tragedy, my goal was to be part of this great nation and contribute in whatever way I could. During the Corona crisis, I decided to open the Nassima Landau Art Foundation, together with Suzanne Landau, to connect Israel with the International art scene by bringing over the most exceptional artists to Tel Aviv, and hereby help promote my city and my country as cosmopolitan and open. I was often criticized for not showing more Israeli artists. Today, it is time for the exact opposite: I am uniting 25 important Israeli artists for a beautiful exhibition, which will serve multiple goals: First, the sum of the proceeds from the exhibition's sales will support the exhibiting artists, who are without work and probably will be for some time. Then, the rest of the sums will be sent directly to Kibbutz Be'eri to help rebuild the destroyed Be'eri Gallery, and also to the Elem Charity Organization, led by Shai Piron.These two causes are dear to my heart: the importance of art in any society and the wellbeing of children.Finally, and this is very personal to me, the 25 artists are coming from all streams of society: the "Spectrum of Lights" exhibition brings together Israeli artists from Ethiopian, Israeli-Arab, Druze, LGTB, and other communities, reminding us what Israel is about; that our diversity is our beauty and our strength. It is an essential reminder to the international community and specifically the international art world that Israel is a free and vibrant society, with total freedom of expression and freedom of living the way we want, in opposition to the societies around us. It seems that these days, these essential values, which make my country so great, must be reminded to those criticizing us unfairly. These days, we are all looking for ways to help each other. This small project will contribute to that.
Sofie Berzon MacKie, Director and Curator of Beeri Gallery: Beeri Gallery, which celebrated 37 years of professional artistic activity in the Negev on October 7, and was a home for visual arts and artists from all sectors and genders, was burned to the ground. The gallery is re-established in Beit Romano in Tel Aviv for the next three years, during which Be'eri will be rebuilt. The gallery will then return home to the Negev and continue spreading light and hope. The auction will help us get through these difficult years in the new chapter of our journey.
Rabbi Shai Piron, Chairman of Elem: Art in its essence is a discovery of the inner world. This war led to deep internal turmoil among the youth. This exhibition will help us prevent long-term harm to our youth, allowing us to provide them with systematic, tailored, long-term assistance. The Elam association locates those youths who need assistance, in order to help them embark on a normative life path as they deserve.