Posted on 10/25/15
Jerusalem, Israel - Oct. 25, 2015 - For its 50th birthday year-long celebration, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem has had a variety of special exhibitions and loans from museums around the world.
In cooperation with the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the Museum is presenting Twilight Over Berlin, Masterworks from the Nationalgalerie 1905 – 1945, a collection of 50 artworks that were considered ‘degenerate art’ and banned by the Nazis.
At last week’s grand opening, which also recognized 50 years of diplomatic ties between Israel and Germany, distinguished German guests spoke to a packed auditorium of Israel Museum supporters, among them a group of German Friends of the Israel Museum. Clemens von Goetze, Germany’s new Ambassador to Israel, spoke to the audience about the sharing of culture and art, which should not be boycotted.
Banning culture is a sign of totalitarian regimes. In 1933, over 20 non-Aryan museum directors and curators were fired as undesirables. Some of the artists had to flee Germany. It is significant, the expressionist art is being shared in Israel.
Museum Director James S. Snyder said at the opening evening event, "culture connects across time and across the world."
Examples of lithograph technique developed after World War I, plus examples of paintings are included in photo essay.
Also on view is Man Ray - Human Equations. Born Emmanuel Radnitsky in Philadelphia, PA, Man Ray worked in Paris but was forced to flee at the start of World War II. He settled in Hollywood, and recreated some of the works he left behind in France. His visual art and life fill one of the five galleries at the Israel Museum with this new exhibition, which was co-organized by the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.
Part of Man Ray's work is included in photo essay, plus a photo of him from a TV interview which is on video in the Museum exhibition.
