Get to know the museum
Founded in 1932, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art has become one of Israel’s leading artistic and cultural institutions, holding a comprehensive collection of local and foreign art, with works from the 16th century to present day.
Collections
The museum’s collection was originally comprised of a few dozen items, but at present there are so many pieces of work from different collections, artists, and countries, that the museum is split into three different buildings, which contain departments such as the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, Prints and Drawings, Photography, Architecture and Design, and Old Masters.
Among its variety of permanent and changing exhibitions, you will come across pieces that will:
Make you breathless
Inspire you
Make you tilt your head in confusion
Cause you to smile and laugh
Give you a sense of peace
Appreciate the abstract
And make you into a rebel
But all will give you a great sense of appreciation and admiration for the artists behind the works.
Architecture
The building itself could also be viewed as a work of art. Designed by architect Preston Scott Cohen, it is comprised of a variety of spaces with unique features that lend to it an aesthetically soothing environment.
Exhibit by Ronit Porat
When I was there, one of my most favourite exhibitions that they had was by Ronit Porat, a recipient of the Lauren and Mitchell Presser Photography Award for Young Israeli Artists (2017). In this exhibition, the third one of a trilogy centered on Lieschen Neuman (“a 1920s German street girl who became a murderer after falling victim to a sexual predator”), Porat focuses on the trial and its outcome. The previous two exhibitions were focused on (1) the events of what happened and (2) the murder and characters involved.
Ronit Porat demonstrated everything in such a way that you could feel the emotions she was trying to portray. You felt compassion for the victim, but at the same time feeling cognitive dissonance because of her actions. Details, such as the words written in pencil instead of being printed out beside each photograph, added another dimension to the feelings that viewers experienced – making the experience much more personal and, at times, heartbreaking.
Additional Information
Where is the museum located?
How much does it cost?
Adult – 50NIS
Tel Aviv Resident – 40 NIS
Student – 40 NIS
Senior Citizen – 25 NIS
Child (up to 18 y/o) – Free of charge
Enlisted soldier – 25 NIS
Enlisted Soldier in Uniform – Free of charge
How long should I spend here?
I think most people spend between 3-5 hours here – but it all depends how much you are a fan of art. Allot yourself a couple of hours at least and if you finish earlier, you can always go outside of the museum to explore and walk around.
What if I don’t know where to start?
Start anywhere your heart desires! No matter where you start off in the museum, you’ll fall in love with the pieces (and also be a little confused by some). When you enter the main building of the Museum, you can also find an information desk, where pamphlets and brochures will be available to help you out.
For more information regarding the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, make sure to check out their website!
Interested in finding more about Israel? Check out more travel blogs here!
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