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Art as a Witness to Tragedy

Posted by admin on October 28, 2024 in Uncategorized |

By: Aaron Herman

The experience of viewing Zoya Cherkassky’s art is nothing short of transformative. Each image transports you to the harrowing scenes of October 7th, capturing emotions that words cannot fully convey. Her work brings the tragedy into sharp relief, making the viewer feel as if they are part of that terrible day and its aftermath. It’s hard not to feel the sorrow and resilience embedded in every stroke. This collection is not just a reflection of the event; it’s an emotional invitation into the experience itself.

When Hamas launched its brutal attack on Israel, leaving 1,200 dead and hundreds taken hostage, the impact reverberated far beyond the immediate horror. Cherkassky, a Ukrainian-born Israeli artist, channeled this devastation into art, creating a series that speaks to the pain, fear, and resolve that followed. Her work, now displayed at the Jewish Museum in New York, allows viewers to confront these raw realities directly. Through mixed media, Cherkassky’s 12-piece series, 7 October 2023, presents intimate scenes of chaos and loss. Museum director James Snyder calls the collection “art activism,” a testament to art’s unique role in reflecting and grappling with trauma.

Art has long been a means to explore and remember human suffering. In works like “Kidnapped Women,” Cherkassky honors this tradition, portraying a group of grieving, barefoot women—one of whom bears the scars of a concentration camp tattoo, tying past and present traumas together. Each expression captures the unbreakable thread of resilience across generations, reminding us that today’s suffering is inseparable from history’s painful lessons.

In the days following the attack, Cherkassky fled Israel with her daughter and poured her anguish into her art. Her images, crafted in watercolor, wax crayon, and pencil, are intimate yet profound. They show figures fleeing, landscapes stained with blood, and faces frozen in terror. The intimacy of these works invites viewers to sit with the story they tell, to feel its weight, and to hold the memory of that day close.

One drawing, “The Terrorist Attack at Nova Music Festival,” captures young women running through fields strewn with fallen bodies. Their faces twist with fear and anguish, reflecting the unimaginable terror experienced by so many that day. Cherkassky uses these scenes to give voice to the personal stories behind the numbers, emphasizing the suffering of women and children, who face additional vulnerabilities in conflict. In “Kidnapped Children,” she hauntingly portrays 18 young faces, each representing a child initially reported as taken hostage, drawing the viewer into the tragic reality that these are not mere statistics but young lives interrupted.

Through 7 October 2023, the Jewish Museum tackles the challenging task of memorializing contemporary tragedies. Cherkassky’s work transcends conventional media coverage, inviting reflection and connection. Each piece is a bridge between observer and experience, urging us to remember and bear witness. Snyder views the exhibition as a “dialogue” about art, identity, and memory—a call to honor these stories and ensure they are never forgotten.

Experience the Exhibit

The exhibit 7 October 2023 will be on view at the Jewish Museum in Manhattan from December 15, 2023, through March 18, 2024, displayed on the Third Floor. As you stand before Cherkassky’s evocative drawings, each image pulls you into a story—an emotional journey through collective grief and resilience. This isn’t just art; it’s a call to remember and connect with an event that, although distant, lives in us all. Cherkassky’s work leaves us with the charge to hold these stories close, ensuring they endure and that the lessons they impart remain with us.

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