Vardi Kahana
dal 9/11/2007 al 20/12/2007
Segnalato da
9/11/2007
Vardi Kahana
Andrea Meislin Gallery, New York
One Family. The artist after establishing herself as Israel's premier portrait photographer, began to document the depths of her own family. It was a journey that spanned more than a decade and took her across not only geographical boundaries but ideological and psychological ones as well.
One Family
Andrea Meislin Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of photographs by Vardi
Kahana, entitled One Family. The exhibition will open on November 10 and close on
December 21, 2007, with a reception for the artist on Sunday, November 11, from 1:00
to 3:00 pm. This will be the artist's
first solo exhibition in the United States.
In the words of Vardi Kahana: This is the story of one family. It is the entire
Jewish-Israeli narrative embodied in a single family. This is my family. To the
big question of Jewish-Israeli identity, the photographs of my family provide a
kaleidoscope of answers. The photograph that launches the series is Three Sisters.
It depicts Kahana's mother Rivka, with her two sisters Leah and Esther, each with
her left sleeve rolled up to expose consecutive tattoos: A-7760, A-7761, A-7762.
Today, having survived Auschwitz, Rivka and her sisters live in Israel with 31
grandchildren, two of them have 35 great-grandchildren.
Kahana, after establishing herself as Israel's premier portrait photographer, began
to document the depths of her own family. It was a journey that spanned more than a
decade and took her across not only geographical boundaries but ideological and
psychological ones as well. Despite the close-knit nature of the first generation
of holocaust survivors, subsequent generations have adopted a diverse range of
lifestyles and belief systems, creating political and religious gulfs. By depicting
each branch of the family in its own environment Kahana shows the myriad paths
individuals are capable of following. From leftist kibbutzim to West Bank settlers
and from Orthodox Jews in Tel Aviv to secular Jews in Copenhagen, Kahana's presence
behind the camera continually reminds us that they are all of one family.
One Family will be presented at Andrea Meislin Gallery following its showing at the
Tel Aviv Museum (June through October 2007). Accompanying the exhibition is a
limited edition portfolio of 21 images with essay by Meir Shalev.
Vardi Kahana's work has been exhibited throughout Israel, both in solo and group
exhibitions. She was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1959 and currently lives and works
in Ramat Hasharon. This marks the first time her work will be exhibited in New
York.
Andrea Meislin Gallery
526 West 26th Street - New York