About Art: Yael Bartana: Inferno

During an exchange program focusing on new religious movements in Brazil, Yael Bartana learned of the construction, in Sao Paolo, of a gigantic recreation of the Temple of Solomon as a Pentecostal church, to be inaugurated in 2014. Inferno (2013) is a “pre-enactment” of the destruction of this, the third Temple of Solomon and the touristic veneration of its remains.

Yael Bartana’s films, installations and photographs explore the imagery of identity and the politics of memory. Her starting point is the national consciousness propagated by her native country, Israel. Central to the work are meanings implied by terms like “homeland,” “return” and ”belonging.” Bartana investigates these through the ceremonies, public rituals and social diversions that are intended to reaffirm collective identity. In 2011 her trilogy And Europe Will Be Stunned represented Poland at the 54th Venice Biennial.

Yael Bartana lives and works in Amsterdam, Berlin and Tel Aviv.

About Art
Art is always on art’s mind. This exhibition shows film and video art that in one way or another has art as its theme. The works are presented consecutively, and in dialogue with the exhibitions at Trondheim kunstmuseum, during two years. The selection focuses on works from the past 50 years. During this period the role of the artist and the nature of the artwork have been among art’s central concerns. About Art freely alternates between different themes and perspectives, and includes reflections on the nature and facts of artistic creation, the works of other artists, and the people who work with art in different capacities. Art about art is also art about us, about life, and the society we live in.

About Art is planned to run for two years and include works by among others Vito Acconci, Yael Bartana, Lynda Benglis, Calin Dan and Dora Garcia.