An Exhibition of Israeli Artists Sooster and Bunkov Opens in Portugal
On 30 January, the exhibition "AlefBet" by the Israeli artists Tenno-Pent Sooster and Sergei Bunkov opened at the Casa Chabad Jewish cultural centre in Cascais, Portugal. The exhibition also featured AR animations by Maxim Bunkov and video art by Oleg Agashkov. Every visitor could read an essay by the cultural historian Mikhail Korol on the Hebrew alphabet.
This premiere of 22 etchings of the Hebrew alphabet is the result of six years of the artists' work.
The opening was attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Portugal, Dor Shapira, who spoke words of welcome on the importance of Israeli cultural projects abroad.
Rabbi Eli Rosenfeld, the community's chief rabbi, reminded those present: "Alef, bet are not only letters with which we can read and write. Every letter is a light sent to us by the Almighty. In the Jewish tradition, letters are sacred. The "AlefBet" project shows not just the letters – the image also comes alive. We are glad that this contemporary project is on show at Casa Chabad."
Sergei Bunkov: "It is very important to me to show our work outside Israel. I feel it as a humanist mission in hard times. Cultural and educational projects show Israel through such sides as the book, the letter, traditions. I find it very symbolic that the premiere began at the westernmost point of Europe. And I want the project to be seen by people in different countries – Britain, France, Spain, where antisemitism has lately been raising its head and there are attempts to demonise the Jewish people."
Tenno-Pent Sooster: "An artist's job is to draw and then show his work. That is why I am very glad of this chance to show "AlefBet" to the Jewish community of Casa Chabad. The present moment is very tense and very sensitive, and of course our exhibition here in Portugal carries many meanings, artistic and human. We go on working and creating. And our people will not be broken."
Mikhail Aivazov, representative of the Sooster Foundation: "The foundation's core values are, above all, preserving historical memory, so as not to repeat the historical mistakes humanity has made before. Another value is fostering dialogue between people and between different cultures. And the most universal language is the language of culture. So when Israeli artists come to Portugal with this grand project, with the Hebrew alphabet, Israel becomes easier to understand – and that is very important."
The exhibition runs until the end of February.