Floral tributes left at Bondi Beach after a deadly terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration in December 2024 have been collected and will be transformed into an art installation at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Jewish Australian artist Nina Sanadze, born in Georgia and based in Melbourne, is working with volunteers to dry and process the flowers in a Sydney warehouse, experimenting with resin, bronze casting, and composted materials to create a work that may depict beachgoers fleeing the attack. The museum, currently closed for redevelopment, plans to feature the installation in a special exhibition when it reopens in 2027.
This project matters because it addresses the sharp rise in antisemitism in Australia since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, and it reflects how art can memorialize tragedy and foster communal healing. Sanadze herself has faced abuse as a Jewish creative and temporarily closed her gallery due to safety concerns, underscoring the broader climate of fear and division. The work also highlights the role of museums in preserving collective memory and giving meaning to public grief.