Gala opening: Tuesday, 28.10.2014, at 7pm

The Roman Square is a historical-archeological site of the 2^nd century A.D. The site was closed to the public over a year ago and has been desolate ever since. The project summons an encounter between artists and an interrupted place that calls for new rules of viewing, activating and pausing, a reset and transformation of the site from an existing to a fabricated place or from a fabricated to an existing place. It is a dialogue with a historical narrative and the permanent display of the site, in an attempt to create a new mythology for 2014.

The artists participating in the project formulated a reflexive response to the Roman Square and the particular point in time, through which they addressed questions surrounding the identity of the place, the decline of faith, multiculturalism, and the fears and inhibitions of contemporary Israeli society and culture.

The choice of this place, at this of all times, is a clear declaration of intent. While a war raged in Gaza, whose consequences touched and affected every civilian in Israel and brought to the surface mixed feelings, violence, and anguish, this realty permeated the project’s formation and influenced the decision making process.

The political act does not have to be the one that shouts its already known positions, demands decisive choices or absolute solutions. The political is shaped by the meeting of the personal and private with the public and communal. In the realms of this space, the political is born in its fullest, most profound sense, not as a one-dimensional ideology, but as an act that generates and sets in motion priorities, values, and aspirations.

In collaboration with East Jerusalem Development Authority.

Among the participating artists: Rami Maymon, Eliya Cohen, Shai Ratner, Yoav Weinfeld, Dana Darvish, Boaz Arad, Simon Krantz & Yael Ruhman, Ayala Landow & Lior Pinsky

The exhibition will be open for at least two months.

For further details: Manofim.org