Contemporary ceramics on display in archaeological setting
‘Arteology,’ Nicole Kornberg-Jacobovici’s solo exhibition of earthenware, stoneware and clay pieces, is up at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Nicole Kornberg-Jacobovici may be the first ceramic artist to display her work in the excavated streets and drainage channel of Second Temple Jerusalem.
“Arteology: The Power of the Ancients in Contemporary Forms” is Kornberg-Jacobovici’s solo exhibition of earthenware, stoneware and clay pieces on display through October 14 in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, accessed from the City of David.
The works are crafted by this Israeli-Canadian artist who has always been inspired by her studies of Bronze Age Egyptian, Mycenaean, Etruscan and Israelite pottery.
She began working on the 27 pieces in 2019, inspired by a group show she was part of in Milan, where a well-known Italian art critic spoke of Kornberg-Jacobovici’s work as a dialogue between the ancient and modern.
Kornberg-Jacobovici was meant to exhibit next in Florence but the pandemic hit, putting a pause on her plans.
She kept working, however, creating her ceramic vase, bowl and platter, disk and seal forms, inspired by biblical, cultural and historical themes, thinking about what location in Israel would work for this next set of pieces.
“I had an idea to put it in a cave, an archaeological setting that’s no longer being used,” she said.
Archaeologist Yuval Baruch was a fan of Kornberg-Jacobovici’s work and “wants people to see archaeology in a contemporary light,” she said.
He suggested the water cistern at the Davidson Center as the right location for exhibiting the ceramics, curated by Irit Ziffer.
The cistern is a “live” archaeological setting, said Kornberg-Jacobovici, with all the archaeologists and workers on vacation during the Sukkot holiday, leaving a short window for the exhibit: October 11-14.
“That was the time when nobody was working, we weren’t in anyone’s way,” she said.
“Arteology” is Kornberg-Jacobovici’s first solo show in Israel and she’s enjoying the natural, organic feel of the space.
“We’ve built a display that’s specific to the space,” she said. “It’s not archaeology, but it feels like the right place to put them.”
While “Arteology” closes Friday, October 14, Kornberg-Jacobovici is looking into exhibiting the 27 pieces in Athens, Rome and Tokyo.
“The space in Athens would be an archaeological setting, Rome has the history and Tokyo has a long-standing tradition of clay,” she said.
