The Jerusalem Show
The Jerusalem Syndrome
October 11–20, 2009
Old City, Jerusalem
An annual international art and cultural event in the old city of Jerusalem.
Opening on Sunday, October 11th, 2009
Tour: starts from Al-Ma’mal Foundation, New Gate, Jerusalem at 6 pm
Reception: Austrian Hospice, Old City of Jerusalem, at 9 pm
The city of Jerusalem is characterized by the concentration of diversity and its conflicts – spiritual, political and territorial at the same time. The Jerusalem Syndrome overtakes tourists, who are overwhelmed by the unique denseness of spiritual sites in the Holy City, their history and imaginaries. Between fifty and two hundred travellers, pilgrims and tourists, every year are affected by the syndrome, believing they are Virgin Mary or the Messiah. They are walking around the city, trying to spread the news of their palingenesis or the apocalypse – before they are taken to the state psychriatic ward.
Therefore the Jerusalem Syndrome stands for enlightenment and collapse at the same time, it is the strongest effect Jerusalem can have on the personality of a visitor. The madness and illusion of being chosen also characterizes the relations of religion and power, when the historical importance of religious sites are cited to legitimate territorial claims over the city. In this sense Jerusalem is also the nucleus of the occupation and its spatial-military pratice.
For the Jerusalem Show 2009 the metaphor of the Jerusalem Syndrome is supposed to serve as an entry for individual approaches to the Old City, exploring its enclaves, wandering its labyrinths, and telling its stories histories from multiple points of view.
Exhibition
curated by Nina Möntmann and Jack Persekian
Artists
Jumana Emil Abboud, Mohamed Al Hawajri, Nevin Aladag, Ayreen Anastas + Rene Gabri, Tarek Atoui, Samira Badran, Taysir Batniji, Nathan Coley, Collaboration Around Micro Politics, Mumbai (CAMP), Phil Collins, Kajsa Dahlberg, Andrea Faciu, Issa Freij, Dora Garcia, Ra’oof Haj Yahya, Suheir Hammad, Sandi Hilal + Alessandro Petti + Basel Abbas + Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Mahmoud Hojeij, Maider Lopez, Ken Lum, Sliman Mansour, Olaf Nicolai, Els Opsomer, Ria Pacquée, Wael Shawky, Ala’ Younis
Sound Project
curated by Federica Bueti in collaboration with RAM, Radio Arte Mobile, Rome (Italy)
Artists
Elisabetta Benassi, Riccardo Benassi, Alvin Curran, Etienne Chambaud, Liam Gillick, Christina Kubisch, Brandon La Belle, Tris Vonna Michell, Carsten Nicolai, Cesare Pietroiusti, Vettor Pisani, Annie Ratti, Michael J. Schumacher, Valerio Tricoli, Stephen Vitiello, Luca Vitone, Achim Wollscheid
Film Program I: How I Have Missed You…
a program of films and videos co-presented with ArteEast, curated by Rasha Salti
Films by
Maher Abi Samra, Ghassan Salhab, Mohamed Soueid and Akram Zaatari.
Film Program II: curated by Lara Khaldi, Yazan Khalili, Mohanad Yaqubi, Reem Shilleh
Walks & Tours in Jerusalem organized by the Center for Jerusalem Studies – Al Quds University
Collaborating institutions
Anadiel Gallery, ArteEast, Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family, Center for Jerusalem Studies – Al Quds University, International Academy of Art Palestine, Palestine Development and Investment Limited (PADICO), RAM -Radio Arte Mobile, Rome , Riwaq Biennale, Spafford Children’s Center, The Jerusalem Hotel, The Tile Factory, The Swedish Christian Study Center, Venice c/o Palestine
Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, New Gate, Old City, Jerusalem 91145, t+972 2 6283457, f+972 2 627 2312, info@almamalfoundation.org , www.almamalfoundation.org
