Short description: Sunset and a Tower looks into contemporary architecture in Jerusalem as a mirror of the city’s politics. In the video a small scale model of Holyland project, a luxurious residential complex in West Jerusalem, sets itself on fire while revealing the actual building behind it.
More about the work: Holyland project is a luxurious residential complex in West Jerusalem. Since the beginning of its construction in the 1990’s, the building was considered an architectural a hazard, encountering resistance from architects, environmental organizations and citizens. Despite the resistance, the project continued, and the building had been given numerous construction concessions. In 2010, a large-scaled scandal exploded in the Israeli media, involving the Israeli prime-minister and the building’s contractors and architects. It had been revealed that behind the decision to build Holyland was a system of bribes and tax evasions. Later that year, the prime minister resigned, and left the building in the middle of the city as a monument to corruption and entrepreneurial development.
The video examines Holyland’s architectural style and the way it corresponds to the politics behind it. A small effigy of Holyland sets itself on fire, fulfilling a fantasy of destruction of the building. As the small scale-model burns, the fantasy fails, and the actual building comes into view behind it.
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis
Short description: Sunset and a Tower looks into contemporary architecture in Jerusalem as a mirror of the city’s politics. In the video a small scale model of Holyland project, a luxurious residential complex in West Jerusalem, sets itself on fire while revealing the actual building behind it.
More about the work: Holyland project is a luxurious residential complex in West Jerusalem. Since the beginning of its construction in the 1990’s, the building was considered an architectural a hazard, encountering resistance from architects, environmental organizations and citizens. Despite the resistance, the project continued, and the building had been given numerous construction concessions. In 2010, a large-scaled scandal exploded in the Israeli media, involving the Israeli prime-minister and the building’s contractors and architects. It had been revealed that behind the decision to build Holyland was a system of bribes and tax evasions. Later that year, the prime minister resigned, and left the building in the middle of the city as a monument to corruption and entrepreneurial development.
The video examines Holyland’s architectural style and the way it corresponds to the politics behind it. A small effigy of Holyland sets itself on fire, fulfilling a fantasy of destruction of the building. As the small scale-model burns, the fantasy fails, and the actual building comes into view behind it.
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis