tales of the east
hili greenfeld BijlmAIR artist-in-residence
29 september 2019 - 27 oktober 2019
In the Transformation series, the successive solo exhibitions by Hili Greenfeld [Israel], Sachi Miyachi [Japan], and Paul Devens [the Netherlands] form a triptych within which the characteristic dome space of Bradwolff Projects is repeatedly neutralized and subsequently transformed. The age-old concept of the palimpsest—rewriting a written sheet after erasing it—is applied as an architectural principle in every exhibition. The three artists normally all work in their own way at the intersection of visual art and architecture, in which the alteration of architectural environments usually plays a prominent role.
Central to the exhibition is the extent to which social awareness and interaction, whether on a large or small scale, can be achieved through architecture. The way in which the hybrid interweaving of visual art and architecture can tell stories from the prevailing zeitgeist is important in this regard. Prior to their presentations, the artists conduct artistic research into the location, architecture, and social history of Bradwolff Projects. To investigate the interplay between visual art and architecture on the one hand, and social awareness and interaction on the other, the local residents and visitors of Bradwolff Projects also play an important role during the presentations. Their personal stories will become part of the spatial transformations [Hili Greenfeld], they will participate in special social rituals in the space [Sachi Miyachi], and their presence will co-transform the sound in the space [Paul Devens].
As part of the Transformation Series, Hili Greenfeld will be the first of the three participating artists to transform the space of Bradwolff Projects into a site-specific work titled ‘Tales of the East’. Her solo exhibition will be on view at Bradwolff Projects from September 29 to October 27. ‘Tales of the East’ is the culmination of her residency period under the CBK Zuidoost BijlmAIR program. Greenfeld’s work is interdisciplinary and multifaceted. Using paintings, found [historical] objects, and architectural models, she creates what she calls ‘environments’—space-filling installations that feel like a world within a world, in which spirituality plays a major role. Greenfeld will transform the exhibition space into an altar where people can ritually share and leave behind their ‘hospital tales’—their memories of a hospital experience. Through this, Greenfeld aims to build a collective memory incorporating various perspectives on the hospital as an institution. This investigates how personal stories relate to universal views regarding the hospital as an institution.
Hili Greenfeld [1981] was born and raised in Nahariya, Israel, and lives and works in Tel Aviv. She studied Literature at Tel Aviv University and Art & Design at the Bezalel Academy. A notable feature of Greenfeld’s work is that, although educated in Israel, she incorporates many Middle Eastern influences and was drawn to them from the very early stages of her artistic practice. She was an artist in residence at the Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore [2012], and was a guest artist at the Tobačna 001 Cultural Center Ljubljana, where she had a solo show in 2016. She has previously exhibited at the Art Cube Gallery in Jerusalem [2017], the Museum of Islamic Art Jerusalem, and the Architect House, Jaffa [2018].