Taking place for the 13th year, the festival boasted a diverse and rich artistic program connected to the pulse of these times. Manofim’s main and opening event went out into the public space and takes place along the route of the Train Track (HaMesila) Park in Jerusalem. This was a walking event that invited the general public to wander around the park, get to know the depths of the landscapes and neighborhoods it traverses, meet the people who live along it, go on a journey inside the city, and collect experiences through sights and human encounters. The walking event En Route featured art and dance performances alongside geopolitical tours, visits to residents’ homes as well as talks with activists and a conference that gathered ideas and insights surrounding the future of the park in terms of urban renewal, nature in the city, connectivity, and financial sustainability.
The 6th Jerusalem Art Conference was be dedicated to Excess – a concept that carries many topical, historical, and philosophical meanings. The life of all of us is teeming with excessiveness, surpluses, and overflows. Among others, the conference explored questions of balance: does surplus in one place inevitably create shortage in another place? When is there too much and how does one deal with this abundance? The public was invited to dozens of lectures that explored the theme from various fascinating aspects.
Artist Appointment offerd unmediated encounters with Jerusalem-based artists. This year the encounters focused on the theme of Coincidence. You know how sometimes you think of something or someone you haven’t seen in forever, just for them to then suddenly pop into your reality? Is it a miracle? Magic? Or is it merely the result of probabilistic causation? We invited the crowd to try and answer these questions throughout the festival’s three days at various art centers around Jerusalem through conversations, workshops, or by taking part in artists’ work processes.
The young generation of future art lovers and their parents were invited to join us in Mini Cranes – a special program of outdoor workshops that offer an experiential introduction to the world of visual art. Manofim Tours – a fascinating series of tours that combined the various exhibitions, focusing on a different geographical location each time. Led by professional tour guides who know the city inside out, each tour took you to surprising locations in Jerusalem and the art they offer. And finally, The Mixer, the musical program produced especially for Manofim, blending together music and art, East and West, old and new, with thrilling connections between musicians and inspiring places, and even a special album release show! We gave you the Jerusalem based trio Rasco featuring Uri Brauner Kinrot in the intoxicating air of the Hansen House, Gal de Paz in an intimate and electrifying piano show on the grand piano at Ticho House, and Uzi Navon in an album release performance of the Uzi Navon Legacy, which transformed the Shimon Barzilay Subaru Garage into a magical kingdom, one Friday noon in Talpiot Industrial Area.
All festival events and exhibitions were held in keeping with the Ministry of Health guidelines, we thank you in advance for your support.
And finally, we want to thank all the artists, galleries, display venues, independent groups, institution directors, residents, activist and volunteers in the En Route event at HaMesila Park, and the many supporters and friends who have been with us for thirteen years – without you, this festival would not have been possible.
See you at the exhibitions and events!
Rinat Edelstein and Lee Hee Shulov
Manofim directors and curators
