Apr 25 2022

"The Orientalist" - Exhibition Opening & Conversation with Israeli Artist Eitan Buganim

Presented by Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University at Brandeis University

Join us for a conversation with Israeli artist Eitan Buganim marking the opening of his virtual exhibition. Learn more & register (free): https://www.brandeis.edu/israel-center/the-orientalist/opening

The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University presents Israeli artist Eitan Buganim in his first-ever US Exhibition. "The Orientalist" is a virtual video art installation, presented online for the first time, and curated by Dr. Rotem Rozental. The exhibition, which can be viewed online at brandeis.edu/israel-center/the-orientalist, will launch officially on April 25, 2022, with a live, online conversation with artist Eitan Buganim and exhibition curator Dr. Rotem Rozental.

Conflating desires, miracles, magic, and impending catastrophes, "The Orientalist" is composed of four short videos in full synchronization, arranged at exactly the same rate, with each crop, angle change, or dramatic action happening simultaneously. The soundtrack for each video is a popular “Oriental” (Mizrahi) Israeli song from the 1980s and 1990s, before this music genre broke into the mainstream. The identical structure attempts to trace the rhythm and melody for each song, highlighting the emotional and social meanings of both the scenes unraveling on screen and the accompanying music.

Participants:
-- Dr. Rotem Rozental, Executive Director, LA Center for Photography
-- Eitan Buganim, Artist

Moderator:
-- Dr. Shayna Weiss, Associate Director, Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University

About the exhibition:

“Buganim’s installation is a double mirror–asking questions not just about contemporary Mizrahi (of Middle Eastern heritage, "oriental") identity, but what it means to be seen as Mizrahi by the rest of Israel, and the world." --Dr. Shayna Weiss

“From parental views to intimate relationships and our concern (or lack thereof) for one another, Eitan’s work is a nuanced, captivating study of personal – yet very universal – junctures. Together, the videos, in their perfect synchronization, provide a powerful panoramic view of the choices we made, or decided not to make.” --Dr. Rotem Rozental

Admission Info

Free and open to all; registration required. Register at brandeis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hzlXJV8wTLO0DVU94Jhezw

Dates & Times

2022/04/25 - 2022/04/25

Location Info

Brandeis University

415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453