Former Tel Aviv Museum Director Susan Landau and art collector Steve Nasima are launching a new art space in Tel Aviv • Up to 15 people will be able to visit the first exhibition
Susan Landau and Steve Nissima against the backdrop of works from the exhibition
Photography:
Meir Cohen
Despite the not-so-simple corona days going on in Israeli culture and art, a new space for art exhibitions will open tomorrow (Tuesday) on Ehad Ha'am Street in Tel Aviv.
There are two people behind this project: Susan Landau, who was the director of the Tel Aviv Museum and the chief curator of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and the businessman Steve Nasima, who is a veteran art collector.
The space, to be called "Nasima Landau", will be launched by the two tomorrow with the opening of a group exhibition called "High Voltage", which includes 35 works by 15 promising artists, most of whom will be unveiled for the first time in Israel.
Among the artists exhibiting at the exhibition: Jonathan Edelhover, Daniel Orchard, Derek Eyalward, Honey Alften, Woody de Othello, Jamie Holmes, Christopher Hartman, Anne Toby, Nirit Tekla, Guy Yanai and Gideon Rubin.
The space can be visited by up to 15 people at a time, depending on the limitations of the corona.
"The initial idea was to do a one-time, temporary pop-up exhibition," Landau says. "We were looking for a space, and this space fascinated us. We thought it had potential. Steve showed great courage and decided to take that space for a long time. Within six weeks we picked up the project. "This is despite the Corona restrictions and the huge challenge. We want to focus on beginning artists and bring art from abroad, because there is not so much opportunity right now to see works abroad, people do not travel and not just bring international artists to Israel. We said we would take the risk - and we set off." .
Nasima adds: "I do not like to sit quietly in crises. I am not one of those who sit and wait for the storm to pass. Crises are also opportunities to do a brave and radical act, and it felt right in my stomach. To do something good for me and the neighborhood. I have been a collector for 26 years, and for me First of all, passion. "
"I do not call this place a gallery," Landau said, "because most of the time a gallery represents specific artists. We do not represent artists but organize exhibitions. We also intend to act as a foundation, to build a non-profit collection that they can then lend to other exhibitions."
According to Nasima, "Art may not be defined as something 'essential', but especially in these dark and terrible days a pleasant image can be moving, a work of art can be soothing. There is a lot of importance to culture and art, and I believe in their power."