20/08/2024
A dive into the very essence why Jewish art has always been attempted to be suppressed by mainstrean media, labeled as propaganda or work of zionists? Our young author Angelika Ginzburg Gurov in conversation with Alex Woz
Jewish Art has always been perceived as a threat to the status quo, challenging what art, creativity and society can and should be. Through our existence and artistic endeavors, we provoke thought and inspire dialogue about art and philosophy. This very essence is why Jewish art has always been attempted to be suppressed by mainstream media. Jewish art was said to be propaganda for the elites, nowadays labeled as the work of „Zionists“. – Alex Woz
Alex Woz is an Argentinian Jewish artist residing in the sun-drenched landscapes of California. But it is not always sunny in California… growing up in one of the most antisemitic cities on the west coast. Alex’s work prides a rich tapestry of Jewish symbolism, nothing short of transcendent. His art has found its way into global exhibitions, gracing platforms such as StandWithUs and Hillel International. I see Alex as a modern orthodox rabbi, a preacher of Jewish pride and resilience, articulating profound truths through the lens of creativity.
This brings us to a compelling controversy throughout history: is a religious Jew doing art a propagandist?
Alex tells us how he was a direct target of this controversy and was politicized and rejected by galleries because of his Jewish motifs, even though other comparable themes of gender, ethnicity and African American issues were exhibited.
A walk through the corridors of history reveals, that Jews were banned from pursuing art during the medieval era, yet religious themes permeated the artistic expressions of the day. Delving deeper into this controversy, we understand that Jews do not possess a traditional history of religious art, as it is forbidden to try to depict God by the Halacha. When Oppenheim, often regarded as the first Jewish artist and allowed to study at the art academy sought to represent Jewish culture and motives in his paintings, they were branded as tools of Jewish propaganda by the elite.
Before the era of enlightenment, Jews were perceived as lacking a culture of their own, branded as internationalists – a notion that resonates in contemporary discussions surrounding Israel, as Alex notes.
These so-called internationalists were considered the architects of industrialization, and some would say that they evolved into the architects of capitalism. Alex’s art challenges these historical narratives, inviting the viewer to reconsider the status quo and the complex interplay between identity, culture and expression in a world that often narrows down and blacklists the Jewish experience.