Manimal: An Ensemble of Solo Exhibitions

The exhibitions explore the symbiosis and co-dependence between man and the living creatures that surround him. As the title implies, "Manimal" deals with a wide range of possible relationships between man and animal and in a broader sense - between humans and nature.

The works of Israeli and international artists are shown side by side.

Museum director, Dalia Levin, together with Ghila Limon, curated the works of Uri Aran, Miguel Chevalier, Shaun Gladwell, Guy Goldstein, Dana Harel, Pieter Hugo, Assi Meshullam, Adi Nachshon, Ariela Plotkin, Alona Rodeh, and Dina Shenhav. In addition, works by Carlos Amorales, curated by Hadas Maor, are on display.
 
In traditional art, man, created as a reflection of God's image and equipped with his intellect and rationality, occupied an uncontested higher status in relation to all living creatures. In a world order reflecting a hierarchy established at the time of the Renaissance and designed to hold man at its center, animals were portrayed as symbols of different qualities such as loyalty, richness, heroism, wildness or just plain beauty.

The Manimal exhibitions examine what happens when the old codes of representation cease to apply: when the dominated are transformed into the dominators, the docile and loyal betray their masters and the feeble and illogical take center stage. When man becomes animal and animal becomes man. The traditional relationships are radically altered, as the previously faithful and passive creatures surrounding man become either threatening or embarrassing or conversely - redeeming and spiritual.