What's Happening?
Israeli artist Yehudit Sasportas is showcasing her video installation, 'Lake of Void,' at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem. The exhibition, which opened on October 12 as part of the Jerusalem Biennale, features clay sculptures resembling land mines,
each containing a concealed message. These sculptures were submerged in Lake Bant in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, a lake situated above a Nazi-era bunker. Sasportas documented the submergence with underwater footage and sound recordings, making it an integral part of the artwork. The installation draws from her earlier work in Germany's Black Forest, where she translated sounds from trees into seismographic lines, which were then sealed in black metal boxes and placed within the clay mines. The exhibition explores themes of buried memory, trauma, and the unseen realities beneath seemingly ordinary landscapes. The Tower of David Museum is hosting the exhibition in an ancient hall, creating a dialogue between the historic structure and contemporary art.
Why It's Important?
This exhibition is significant as it offers a unique approach to preserving and confronting historical memory, particularly in relation to traumatic past events like the Nazi era. By creating artifacts and submerging them in a location with a hidden history, Sasportas challenges traditional archaeological methods and invites viewers to consider how memories are preserved and interpreted. The dialogue between ancient architecture and contemporary art within the Tower of David Museum adds another layer to Jerusalem's rich history, presenting a modern perspective on the city's cultural narrative. The work's exploration of 'ani' (I) and 'ayin' (nothingness) in Hebrew also delves into profound philosophical and spiritual dimensions, suggesting that art can bridge different times and states of consciousness. This artistic endeavor contributes to the broader conversation about how societies engage with their past and process collective traumas through creative expression.
What's Next?
The 'Lake of Void' exhibition is scheduled to remain on display at Jerusalem's Tower of David Museum until the end of November. Following this, the sculptures will continue to reside at the bottom of Lake Bant, forming a permanent underwater installation above the submerged Nazi bunker. This particular work is the third of six 'Mine Sentence' installations that Sasportas plans to submerge across Europe and Israel between 2020 and 2025, indicating a continued exploration of these themes in various historically charged locations. The ongoing nature of 'The Liquid Desert Project,' which began in 2013 and includes this installation, suggests that Sasportas will continue to create art that brings buried histories to light and seeks to heal charged places through artistic intervention. Future installations will likely continue to engage with sites of traumatic history, prompting further reflection on memory and the unseen.
Beyond the Headlines
The 'Lake of Void' project delves into the ethical and philosophical dimensions of memory and historical trauma. By creating 'remains' rather than uncovering them, Sasportas challenges the conventional role of the archaeologist, positioning the artist as a creator of future historical artifacts. This approach raises questions about the subjective nature of history and the power of art to shape collective memory. The choice to submerge the sculptures above a Nazi bunker in Germany directly confronts the legacy of historical violence and the idea of what remains hidden beneath peaceful surfaces. Furthermore, Sasportas's use of Hebrew language concepts like 'ani' and 'ayin' introduces a spiritual and linguistic layer, suggesting that meaning can be found in nothingness and that art can facilitate a transformation of consciousness. This work encourages a deeper contemplation of how art can serve as a medium for healing and communication across time and cultural divides, offering a unique perspective on confronting difficult pasts.
