Art Tradition through the influence of Chagall

It has indeed been a while but honestly, who has time to write in a blog once one has had their interview at university, which is evidently what blogs are all about. Being in Israel for the past couple of days, after having spent most of the summer here made me realise something important about art in Jewish culture. I had always felt that art culture in Jewish tradition is extremely thin. One thinks of Chagall, perhaps, and is awed by his art. I was fortunate enough to visit his hand sown tapestry painting in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, for the second time this year. I was moved by his sensitivity towards Jewish history: three colossal tapestries, vibrant with colour, life and richness, which represented Jewish history's past, present and future. Scenes from the Bible along with contemporary situations intertwine in a maze of vitality and intense hues, which would cease to move only the coldest of hearts. Chagall is breathtaking, no doubt. However, even in his most emotional paintings, in which happiness and carefreeness is represented through surreal and trademark Chagall floating figures, the message is enhanced through images of Christ and the New Testament. My question is the following: people are so swayed by Biblical imagery, there is no doubt about this. From Rembrandt, to El Greco, to Damien Hirst and back to Chagall, the Bible extremely often plays a crucial role in visual art. Why, therefore, is there not a strong JEWISH art tradition?! I asked this question about a month ago to an art gallery owner in Tsfat, city of Kaballah. He paused and put all his weight on one hip while raising his eyes towards the ceiling as he considered his answer. Eventually, he pivoted on the soles of his feet and told me to look around. Judaism is about innovation, hence Rosh Jodesh, the celebration of a new month, Rosh Hashana, of a new year: the celebration of innovation and ceaseless motivation to discover the new. This is what is represented in art (finally) today: artists use controversial techniques, they take risks, they ave exhibitions in mediocre art galleries in Tsfat and they keep trying if they do not sell. Indeed, only minutes before we had witnessed a Tsfat resident working with glass, as she blew the hypnotisingly colourful fluid into a form, seconds before it dried. Chagall is all very well and good, but all Jews seem to care about, in all aspects, is innovation. Perhaps this is why they, of all people, choose to ignore Biblical tradition when seeking inspiration for art (in general, of course).

'The Chosen'

Hello fellow readers/ art lovers! I do appreciate that it's been a while-school has been intense as always. I found the time, though, to blog about a recent piece of prose I was recommended, called 'The Chosen', by Chaim Potok. Now, most of you may have known this author, some simply because he's a bestseller, others because he is a conservative rabbi who studied psychology and writes beautifully, and others that he is an anti-orthodox Jew. Whatever your opinion on this controversial genius, I would like to highlight the fact that his work is outstanding. 'The Chosen', a story on friendship and the hardships of religious conflict deals with youth and adolescence in such a beautiful manner...It led me to tears. For a book to draw out powerful emotion is quite something. I think Chaim Potok is so unbelievably talented. Please read the book, if you have time. If you're a history lover, because you'll learn so much on the history of the Jews in the late 19th century and early 20th, if you're a romantic because of Danny's inclinations and Reuven's confusion, if you're a zionist, if you're a lover of the Jews, if you're a hater of the Jews, if you like to read, if you're bored, if you're a boy, if you're a girl...just read the book, regardless of any trait you might have. It's really something. Stay tuned for more incompetent comments on art and literature.