“Omanut” in hebrew means “Art”, and it is Israeli works which are being displayed and utilized in Israel Art & Life 1906-2006 a new project in Italy, which intends to realize the widest Israeli art exhibition ever organized, on the occasion of the celebration of its birth centenary. The exhibition includes 100 years of Israeli art and culture - since 1906, date of the opening of the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem - till the contemporary art of the young generations.

As their website says:

Like every important artistic expression is a witness of the time, the place and the society, Israeli art as well is radically connected with the existential situation of the country and its people, and with its creation and development. Therefore it is possible to define Israeli art as an existential art.

Israel today is a laboratory of synthesis between worldwide cultures, continuosly looking for a west and middle-east balance, and between the local creative expressions and the immigration bias, the most important influence in Israel. Israel art however succeded during its lifetime to find its own essence, with originality. Israeli art often tells about sites, society, political and religious history of the country, proving that difficulties can often increase creativity. But Israeli art more often just represents the creative effort of the artists in front of the big art and human topics.

Israel is a land of light, flavours, passions. Crucible of history, languages, religions, cultures, ways of living and thinking. Cradle of history, spring-board of the future. Catalyst of energies, a concentration of spirituality and pragmatism, of tradition and innovation. Guardian of the memory, propeller of ideas.

Not just the Promised Land. Not only the Holy Land. Not just the land of milk and honey. Not just biblical landscapes. Neither it is just a land of war, struggles and conflicts.
Israel is a real country. And so is its art.

The exhibition shows the evolution of the artistic and creative Israeli route in the course of one century, through languages and tools similar to those of the international expressive panorama: video, photography, high-tech installations.

There will be also explanations and quotes of important historical protagonists, in order to show the visitors the atmosphere of a developping society fighting for its existence.
The project’s aim is to inform the visitors about this peculiar human experience…

The exhibition is open from October 18, 2006 to January 7, 2007. It started in Milan, in Palazzo Reale, and will continue in Italy and Europe. So if you have any European travel plans, you might want to take a welcome detour.

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