“KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA” is a group exhibition including artworks by Diti Almog, Arahmaiani, Yochai Avrahami, Ilit Azoulay, Guy Ben-Ner, Monica Bonvicini, Born from Rock, Rafram Chaddad, Latifa Echakhch, Ceal Floyer, Shilpa Gupta, Peter Halley, Michal Helfman, Chourouk Hriech, Gaston Zvi Ickowicz, Eti Jacobi, Christian Jankowski, Kitty Kraus, Jannis Kounellis, Agnieszka Kurant, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Benoît Maire, Alex Mirutziu & TAH29, Jonathan Monk, Laurent Montaron, Natan Tarfe, Joshua Neustein, Adrian Paci, Eli Petel, Pratchaya Phinthong, Wilfredo Prieto, Public Movement, Tomer Rosenthal, Miri Segal, Ariel Schlesinger, Shiri Tarko, Jan Tichy, Naama Tsabar, Alice Tomaselli, Lihi Turjeman, Günther Uecker, Johannes VanDerBeek, Lawrence Weiner, and Nevet Yitzhak.

Among the many ideas connected to this project, six of them deserve to be mentioned in this context. The first one is the celebration of the 20th anniversary of CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo, which was initiated in 1998 by Sergio Edelsztein, who directed it until 2017. Mirroring this pivotal moment in the history of the institution, “KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA” will include works by artists whose work has been exhibited at the CCA in the past – such as Arahmaiani, Ceal Floyer, Michal Helfman, Christian Jankowski, Agnieszka Kurant, and Adrian Paci – and works by artists who will present projects in the future – such as Ilit Azoulay, Laurent Montaron, Naama Tsabar, and Nevet Yitzhak.

The second idea is connected to the title of the exhibition. Hebrew is a fascinating language based on roots; from one root you can ‘build’ multiple words, sometimes different if not in contradiction with each other. This is the case of the root kuf (ק), dalet (ד), mem (מ), from which you can ‘build’ kedem [ancient], kodem [before], and kadima [forward]. Following this concept, many works will be created, or recreated, especially for the exhibition, and some of them will eventually disappear or be destroyed. Following this attitude, the exhibition is dedicated to Jannis Kounellis (1936-2017), whose last exhibition was conceived and presented in Israel.

The third idea connected to this exhibition is the choice of a specific display. On the ground floor and balcony of CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo, and also in the three additional spaces, works have been juxtaposed in accordance to disparate associations. Concepts, notions, and figures as diverse as “human condition,” “site-specific,” “Passover,” and “fire and water” have been employed to bring works of art together. Inspired by the “Radiant Face of Moses” (Exodus 34:29-35), on the first floor gallery of the Center, the space will be kept dark and all the works presented there will generate their own light in the form of video projections, light bulbs, light boxes, and more.

The forth idea is the decision to include an exhibition-within-the-exhibition called “Department of Rocks and Stones.” Rocks and stones both symbolize construction and destruction. They also appear in seminal passages of the New Testament, from Jesus’s provocation “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:1-10) to his verbal testament “And I tell you that you are Peter, [The Greek word for Peter means rock] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:13-20). Scattered within the exhibition, the “Department of Rocks and Stones” includes works by Jannis Kounellis, Michal Helfman, Joshua Neustein, Shilpa Gupta, Johannes VanDerBeek, and Jonathan Monk among others.

The fifth idea is connected to the choice of extending the exhibition to the three aforementioned spaces – going against territoriality and instead embracing collegiality and inclusivity. Following these premises “KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA” goes beyond its own premises – the Rachel & Israel Pollak Gallery – scattered in different areas of the city. Like its logo, CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo will function as a “black sun” with several satellites (spaces), emphasizing elliptical trajectories (cyclical time versus linear time) and its related concept of “eccentricity.”

The sixth and last idea is a public program that will start before the exhibition opens and will continue throughout its duration.

“KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA” is curated by Nicola Trezzi and is presented at CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo, Born from Rock’s studio, Idris, and The Lobby Art Space, all in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

The exhibition is accompanied by a booklet in Hebrew, Arabic and English, a conversation between Pratchaya Phinthong and Trezzi on March 20, a conversation between Monica Bonvicini and Sergio Edelsztein on March 29, an artist talk by Chourouk Hriech on April 2, a roundtable moderated by Hila Cohen-Schneiderman on May 9, a conversation between Christian Jankowski and Edelsztein on May 17 and a performance by Public Movement on April 13 and 14.

“KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA” is supported by the Ruth Ivor Foundation, Dana Sheves, Dr.Daniel Milman, Ann and Dr. Ari Rosenblatt, Yehoshuah Gessel & Yoel Kremin, Yifat Gurion and Fresh Paint, Outset Contemporary Art Fund with special thanks to Candida and Zak Gertler, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Tel Aviv, Institut Français, Tel Aviv, and the Fondation Jacqueline de Romilly under the auspices of the Fondation de France, Artport, Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro, Inga Gallery, Tel Aviv, Tyler Rollins Fine Art, New York, and Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv.

Images

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“KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA,” 2018

View of the exhibition at CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo

Photo: Eyal Agivayev

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“KEDEM–KODEM–KADIMA,” 2018

View of the exhibition at CCA Tel Aviv-Yafo; artwork by Shiri Tarko

Photo: Eyal Agivayev