Fractures, Hopes and Resonances: 14 Artists Confronting Israeli Reality
- Caroline Haïat
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
The eclectic exhibition “The Third Space”, curated by Shlomit Oren and Lilach Shmul, opened on September 4 in Tel Aviv. It is an initiative of Bifnocho—created by the Reality Group in the former IDF spokesperson’s building at 9 Itamar Ben Avi Street. Through the works of 14 artists, the exhibition sheds light on pressing issues at the heart of Israel’s conflicts and open wounds: the displacement of populations due to war, the effects of climate change, the role of media in the digital age, violence, and the devastating aftermath of October 7.
“This is the fifth exhibition held at Bifnocho. It was born out of the idea of offering a positive perspective at a time when we have been living in the chaos of war for almost two years. Israel in 2025 stands at the crossroads of multiple crises—political, cultural, social, and emotional. It is precisely at this moment that the need arises for a space that embraces complexity without simplifying it, and that gives room to conflicting voices without silencing them. Bifnocho is a fertile ground for cultural encounters. Art has this unique ability to raise sharp questions and open spaces for dialogue, without flattening the lines. It positions itself between identities, stances, and eras,” explains Sahar Bar-Nissan, Manager of Bifnocho.
“The works we received through an open call reaffirmed that art is a tool for rethinking the present and providing keys to better grasp reality. Paintings, videos, and photographs here tackle a wide range of themes. Each work is singular, yet together they fit seamlessly into a collective statement,” she adds.
Renowned artist Efrat Yaron raises the question of the collision between human behavior and environmental crisis through her video installation Rebuild, which depicts a bombed city swept away by a terrifying wave, reappearing and repeating endlessly. Hadas Brier, in turn, presents a plant sprouting and blooming from an old worn carpet, a symbol of the interrelationship between man and nature.
Domestic violence brought to life
In a very different context, multidisciplinary artist Moran Asraf presents a striking video performance entitled Red Color, dealing with violence against women and inspired by her family story. We see Moran wearing her mother’s dress—her mother too was a victim of domestic abuse—grating beetroot, its red juice evoking blood. A “feminine” and Sisyphean act, the piece transports the viewer into the spaces of abortion, menstruation, and conjugal violence—within the domestic sphere which, instead of being protective, is in fact the most dangerous.
Moran Asraf, who began her artistic career at the age of 31 without prior experience, uses her body as the central tool of her work. Her goal is to denounce practices of women’s oppression while challenging the clearly defined roles assigned to them throughout history. The materials and images she employs draw from her childhood memories in Dimona, from Mizrahi culture, and from the figure of her mother.
According to her, “violence against women is an epidemic,” a cultural and gendered issue that is never sufficiently addressed: a constant hemorrhage that accompanies us throughout life.
Also within the theme of violence, artist Nir Adoni created disinfectant grenades, painted in cheerful colors that suggest the possibility of a better future—one without war and criminal violence.
A tribute to the kites of peace
The current war and the devastating consequences of October 7 occupy a prominent place in the exhibition. Artist Tal Goldman, originally from Kibbutz Yotvata, painted kites in homage to the kite festivals for peace initiated by the late Aviv Kutz, as a response to the incendiary balloons launched by Hamas on the communities surrounding Gaza.
Goldman’s work is not a painting of war, but of hope: the kibbutz is presented as a creative force of reality, figures are dressed in blue and white, and the kite is evoked through the postures and composition of the protagonists. Tal draws inspiration from the tradition of epiphoniada (kite festivals), which emerged as early as the 1930s, influenced as well by traditions outside Israel, and examines the connection between tradition, creation, and changing reality. The work considers how, while some kibbutzim have faced cracks and weaknesses, others have found renewed strength and unity.
In a different vein, Marganit Erez sculpts figures in sand—where one can imagine kidnapped people in tunnels and others reaching out for help.
“The works in the exhibition revolve around one shared proposition: listening. Through art. The pieces oscillate between the intimate and the collective, and together create a ‘third space’—neither home nor workplace, but an in-between realm conducive to reflection, critical thought, and human compassion. Inspired by the concept of the ‘Third Space’ by theorist Homi Bhabha, this place belongs to no side, but emerges from their encounter. Here, at the heart of fracture, art seeks to offer listening. Not a solution, but a thread,” says Sahar.
Photographer and video artist Tal Nahum—the granddaughter of David Ben-Gurion’s secretary—presents her new project Spirit of Jars: a series of photographic works and treatments of broken jars she collected in and around Sderot after October 7. The choice of jars—vessels that once carried water, oil, and stories—transforms them into symbols linking eras and places, inviting viewers to approach the fracture and the questions of repair and wholeness.
“This exhibition was designed to provoke thought and stir reflection on the current situation, but also to bring hope, by offering pathways for dialogue and exchange on themes that resonate with us all. We hope that visitors will leave Binofcho enriched, with questions, thoughts, and perhaps a bit changed from how they entered. Our goal will be fulfilled if their inner world has been somewhat shaken by what they experienced,” Sahar concludes.
The exhibition runs until October 23. On September 29, a guided tour will be held with the artists.
Opening hours and events:
Monday, September 15, 5:00–7:00 pm
September 29: opening and conference, 7:30–9:30 pm
October 8, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
October 23: exhibition closing
Caroline Haïat
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