The Pot is Boiling | Group show 15.01 - 30.10 2024

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"In the midst of life's turmoil, where emotions simmer and time relentlessly marches on, the struggle to confront a disheartening reality intensifies. Faced with the abyss of collective trauma, we often grapple with questions of purpose and control. In moments of profound powerlessness, akin to having pen and paper forcibly taken away, one may wonder: when life is hard, do we retreat into the shadows of grief, isolating ourselves in a sanctuary of tears?

 

Yet, even in the bleakest circumstances, we possess the freedom to shape our response to fate, as Viktor Frankl asserted in "Man's Search for Meaning". Frankl's existential insights, rooted in logotherapy, advocate filling life's void through meaningful experiences, be they artistic, spiritual, or founded in love. This theory underscores that embracing suffering can bring profound meaning to life.

 

Exploring Frankl's therapeutic methods, we uncover creative approaches to navigate personal and collective traumas. Logotherapy, requiring dedication to life and its practice, suggests that acknowledging suffering allows one to imbue life with deeper significance. His philosophy echoes through time, reminding us that even in the face of suffering, there exists a choice — not necessarily in shaping our fate, but in determining our attitude toward it and thus having a major impact on the outcome of the journey of life. 

 

Nietzsche's echoes resonate in the core of Frankl's teachings: "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." In today's unpredictability of life, as we navigate collective upheaval, the Boiling Pot Exhibition invites artists to articulate and explore their struggles through art.

From heartbreak and strained relationships to the loss of faith or community, submitted artworks delve into a spectrum of human experiences. Amidst the emotional coma that often pervades daily life, artistic creation serves as a powerful means of externalizing and validating the intrinsic value of our existence.

 

The exhibited works, spanning various mediums, offer glimpses into the artists' processes of grappling with trauma and existential hardships. Each artwork becomes a form of therapy, acknowledging the weight of difficulty without denial. Choices we make shape the life we lead, and the reality we perceive is ours to determine. In this exhibition, the diverse therapeutic expressions remind us that art can be a transformative tool for navigating life's complexities."

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Group show curated by Maya Shalev at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem.

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