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Press Release

1 April 2023 

ARCHIBALD FINALIST LAUNCHING NEW MELBOURNE  EXHIBITION ON  ISRAEL

B'Aretz: Portrait of a Land is a new Melbourne exhibition of classical portraits and landscapes from 2022 Archibald Prize finalist Avraham Vofsi, opening in April and running until the end of May.  

The new series follows the deeply transformative inner journey of creativity and faith in a young Australian artist’s life as he reconnects with his ancestral homeland. Experience Israel through the eyes of Avraham as he struggles to understand what it means to be Jewish after years of internalised antisemitism. 

“Being able to have pride in your Jewish identity, especially one grounded in connection to our ancestral homeland, is vital to combat the rising antisemitism we face today. 

For me, gaining a stronger sense of my Jewish identity through our history in Israel has helped give me strength, inspiring this new chapter of my artistic journey.” explains Vofsi. 

The portrait and landscape scenes are a deeply powerful and universal depiction of Israel. Set in a land steeped in biblical history, these motifs clash against contemporary elements of life in Israel today - the classic and the modern at once casting viewers into the past and pulling them into the present. A graceful homage to ancient times, through historic and cultural references will leave the viewer inspired, enlightened and reconnected to Israel, and what it means to be Jewish today. 

The exhibition opening coincides with the 75th anniversary of Israeli Independence Day - just in time to provide a fresh perspective on the Jewish state. The Exhibition will be hosted in Melbourne’s oldest synagogue, East Melbourne Synagogue: 488 Albert St, East Melbourne VIC 3002.

B'Aretz opens to the public every Wednesday and Sunday at 11am - 3pm from Sunday April 30th until Sunday May 21, 2023. Opening night is Sunday, April 30th at 5pm and will include food, drinks and music. Entry is free but registration is required: Visit www.avrahamvofsi.com/baretz to register.

For more information, please contact:

Avraham Vofsi, Artist | 0478 916 409 | avi@avrahamvofsi.com | www.avrahamvofsi.com

ABOUT THE ARTIST 

Over the past decade, Vofsi has established himself in the Australian portraiture scene with his rich body of work. His recent accolades include a finalist placing in the Archibald Portrait Prize (2022) and the Darling Portrait Prize (2022).  Employing his experience as a filmmaker, Vofsi conveys the richness of his subject’s stories through crafting films to accompany his paintings. His work provides an emotionally compelling experience, and speaks to the deep connection that forms between the artist, the subjects, and the viewers.