Beneath a German lake, above a Nazi bunker: Israeli artist explores buried memory - feature

Israeli artist Yehudit Sasportas presents her video installation "Lake of Void" at Jerusalem's Tower of David Museum, in connection with the Jerusalem Biennale. The exhibition runs until the end of November and explores the buried memory of historical events, presented through clay sculptures containing hidden messages.

Located within Jerusalem's ancient citadel, the museum provides a historical context for the contemporary artwork, enabling the juxtaposition of past and present. The installation's submerged location, in Lake Bant, Germany, above a Nazi-era bunker, emphasizes the theme of hidden histories beneath ordinary landscapes.

Sasportas' work, part of her larger The Liquid Desert Project, aims to bring buried histories to light through artistic expression. By creating artifacts that connect memories and sounds, Sasportas attempts to heal and transform the charged memories associated with these locations. The installation's use of Hebrew letters, forming intentional words and sentences, adds another layer of meaning to the artwork.

The location of the exhibition, within the historic citadel dating back to the Crusader or Ayyubid period, further underscores the dialogue between ancient structures and Sasportas' exploration of memory. The Lake of Void installation serves as a permanent underwater artifact, a testament to the artist's commitment to preserving and revealing the buried histories of the past.