Shades of Israel: 12 Israeli Artists Explore War in Puglia

The third edition of Shades of Israel, a cultural bridge between Puglia and Israel, opened in early October 2023, days before the Hamas attack. Curated by Fiammetta Martegani, the project features three exhibitions across Lecce, Trani, and Polignano, showcasing works by 12 Israeli artists of diverse backgrounds—Jewish, Arab, Christian. At the Museo Ebraico di Lecce, the group show 'My Altneuland' presents ten emerging artists responding to Theodor Herzl's 1902 utopian text, reflecting on Israel's current reality through video, stencil, and Japanese ink. At Fondazione Pino Pascali, Tsibi Geva's solo show 'Terra Infirma' explores place and identity, influenced by Arte Povera; Geva represented Israel at the 2015 Venice Biennale. At Castello Svevo in Trani, Maria Saleh's monumental charcoal mural 'Ludmila' (11x4 meters) depicts her mother's first encounter with Um El Fahem, addressing war and maternity against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Saleh was named Best Israeli Artist of 2023 by the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The exhibitions run through much of 2024. Martegani, speaking from a Tel Aviv bunker, emphasizes art as a vehicle for peace and cross-cultural understanding.