Yael Bartana's Utopian Trilogy Culminates in Milan Exhibition
Yael Bartana, who hails from Kfar Yehezkel and was born in 1970, explores themes of utopia and dystopia, drawing from her experiences growing up in Israel and her studies at the Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem. Currently residing in Berlin and Amsterdam, she embraces fluidity in identity. After receiving the Villa Massimo Prize in 2024, she spent a year in Rome, leading to a significant showcase at the German Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. Her artistic journey transitioned from advocating for the Jewish diaspora's refuge in Poland to envisioning a 'Generation Ship' for humanity, influenced by Kabbalistic Sefirot. The 'Utopia Now!' exhibition at Galleria Raffaella Cortese in Milan wraps up her trilogy, featuring a neon tribute to Italian Futurism and the video piece 'Mir Zaynen Dor!' alongside images of endangered Roman pines.
Key facts
- Yael Bartana was born in Kfar Yehezkel in 1970.
- She studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.
- She is currently based between Berlin and Amsterdam.
- She won the Villa Massimo Prize and spent a year in residence in Rome.
- She participated in the Venice Biennale in 2011 at the Polish Pavilion and in 2024 at the German Pavilion.
- Her exhibition 'Utopia Now!' is at Galleria Raffaella Cortese in Milan.
- The exhibition includes a neon sign reading 'Utopia Now!' as an homage to Italian Futurism.
- The video 'Mir Zaynen Dor! (We Are Here!)' was created with Casa do Povo in São Paulo.
- Casa do Povo was founded in 1946 by Holocaust survivors.
- The video features Coral Tradição and Ilú Obá De Min.
- The exhibition includes four photographs of Roman pines titled 'Pinus (1,2,3,4)'.
- Bartana's work draws on Jewish mysticism and the concept of redemption.
Entities
Artists
- Yael Bartana
Institutions
- Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
- Villa Massimo
- Venice Biennale
- German Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- Galleria Raffaella Cortese
- Casa do Povo
- Teatro de Arte Israelita Brasileiro
- Coral Tradição
- Ilú Obá De Min
- Artribune
Locations
- Kfar Yehezkel
- Israel
- Jerusalem
- Berlin
- Germany
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Rome
- Italy
- Venice
- Milan
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Poland
- Yiddishland
- Eastern Europe