Jerusalem Biennale turns art into catalyst for post-October 7 healing

The seventh Jerusalem Biennale opens on Thursday, spanning 21 venues with over 250 artists in 42 exhibitions. The theme, De Profundis, explores memory and collective trauma after October 7, featuring works by Yehudit Sasportas and Hanita Ilan. The seven-week program includes talks, tours, and performances.

The Jerusalem Biennale opens its seventh and largest edition on Thursday, spanning 21 venues across Jerusalem with over 250 Israeli and international artists in 42 exhibitions. The theme, De Profundis (From the Depths), derived from Psalm 130, explores memory, spirituality, and identity in the wake of post-October 7 collective trauma. Founder Rami Ozeri described the theme as a catalyst for movement, stating that art creates a passage from the personal and collective subconscious toward expression, connection, and light. Yehudit Sasportas will premiere Mishpat Mokesh (A Mined Sentence) on October 12 at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. Belu-Simion Fainaru participates in the central exhibition Or Chozer (Reflected Light). Hanita Ilan, winner of the 2025 Rappaport Prize, presents a solo exhibition at Hamiffal Gallery. The exhibition Or Chozer features 20 artists engaging with Mordecai Ardon’s utopian windows. At the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Open Wound brings together 14 Israeli and Diaspora artists to explore the borderless reverberations of October 7. The seven-week program includes gallery discussions, artist talks, guided tours, workshops, and performances.