Israeli artist Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi has unveiled a new body of work that utilizes the visual language of Old Masters and classical mythology to process the collective trauma of the October 7 attacks. By referencing iconic compositions from art history, Cherkassky-Nnadi creates a bridge between historical depictions of suffering and the immediate, raw experiences of contemporary Israeli life, offering a formal structure to otherwise unspeakable events.
This exhibition represents a significant shift in the artist’s practice, moving from her well-known social realism and satirical observations of Soviet-Israeli identity toward a more somber, allegorical register. The use of classical motifs serves as a powerful tool for institutional and public mourning, demonstrating how traditional art historical frameworks remain vital for articulating modern political and personal crises within the museum space.