Jerusalem holds deep historical and religious significance for the Jewish people. It’s been the center of the world ever since King David made it the capital of his kingdom in 1003 BCE.

Today, the holy city continues to captivate much of the world’s attention. It remains a symbol of peace and unity. It holds significance in Jewish law. Jews outside of Jerusalem always pray facing its direction. Moreover, it is emerging as one of the most exciting centers for cutting edge technology in the world.

One unknown fact about Jerusalem is that it is a great destination for exploring contemporary art.  Incredible works of art, especially Jerusalem paintings, can be found in museums and exhibits across the city. In this blog post, Menucha Page, a contemporary artist, explores 5 art installations and exhibits in Jerusalem that you simply cannot miss.

 

1. Homage to Jerusalem by Alexander Calder

Homage to Jerusalem was the last sculpture created by famous American sculptor, Alexander Calder. The sculpture was installed in 1977 in the Holland Square, a place chosen by Calder himself, and was made using bolted sheet metal. It consists of two sides: A light, open side, with high arches through which one can see the panorama; And a sealed, heavy side that reminds one of an animal’s tail.

 

2. Second Temple Model by Michael-Avi Yona

The Holyland Model of Jerusalem is a 50:1 scale model of the holy city in the late Second Temple Period. Measuring at 2,000 square meters, it is currently being housed Israel Museum. It was relocated there from the Holyland Hotel in 2006.

Fast Fact: The structure houses a number of notable and important structures, including the Temple Mount, Pool of Bethesda and Herod’s Palace. It is also divided into 5 districts: The City of David, Upper City, Lower City, Bezetha, and Ophel.

 

3. The Nano Bible – the Smallest Bible in the World by Haifa’s Technion Institute

The Nano Bible is the smallest copy of the Hebrew Bible. It was carved onto a microchip no larger than a grain of sugar. It serves as a modern counterpart to the Dead Sea Scrolls, which include the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world. It also provides art enthusiasts with a rare opportunity to explore the technological evolution of the Hebrew Bible from biblical to the postmodern era.

Fast Fact: The Nano Bible is legible; however, one has to magnify it 10,000 times before being able to see the contents.

 

4. Turning the World Upside Down by Anish Kapoor

Turning the World Upside Down is an Hourglass Installation located at the top of the “carter” outdoor promenade of the Israel Museum. The installation was built out of highly polished stainless steel and stands at 5.0 meters and with a 5-meter diameter.  It is a well-regarded piece of art, incredibly capturing the earth and the sky in their reversed positions.

 

5. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem by Dani Karavan

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem is a wall carving, which is displayed in the Assembly Hall of the Knesset and designed by modern environmental artist Dani Karavan. The 24-metre wide art installment depicts an abstract scenery view, curved in Galilee limestone, and is one of two Karavan artworks featured in the Knesset. The second is the front wooden wall on the compound’s auditorium.

Fast Fact: The art exhibit is the most photographed art in Israel.