There are two large museums operating in Tel Aviv. This is the fact. In fact, these are two of the only three large museums in Israel (along with the Israel Museum in Jerusalem). All the rest already fall into the medium category and below (in terms of size). It is true that the Tel Aviv Museum and the Eretz Israel Museum (Yomt HaHalom and I don’t call it a museum) do not always play on the same ticket, but in recent years, especially with the changes that the AI Museum is going through, they have become comparable. And that’s why we gathered.
The Land of Israel Museum
Location: The sleepy northern Ramat Aviv, at the intersection in front of the kibbutzim seminary, near the planetarium. Definitely a destination that needs to be reached especially, because you have nothing to go around in the area beyond that.
history: The museum was opened to the public in 1958, near the archaeological site Tel Kasila, on the basis of the estate of the industrialist Walter Moses who collected artistic and archaeological finds from the ancient and modern culture of Palestine. At first it was called the “Earth Museum” and during the 1980s it was changed by the then CEO, Rehabam Zaevi (yes, the same Rehabam Zaevi) to the “Earth Israel Museum”. In 2016, it was rebranded as “Moza”, probably to avoid, among other things, the common confusion with the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Half nature, half art. From the “Sorceress Art” exhibition at the Eretz Israel Museum
Focus on: The museum was originally established as one that combines archaeology, culture and folklore of the Land of Israel. It has a comprehensive historical permanent display that is divided into pavilions – from a ceramics pavilion to a stamp pavilion (in my life), and you can spend a beautiful didactic visit there. But – in recent years (and a little more than that) the museum also regularly integrates exhibitions of contemporary art and design – from the first art and design biennale presented in 2020 to exhibitions such as the World Press Photo exhibition. You will almost never find solo exhibitions there, most of the exhibitions are built thematically around a certain theme and are usually also extremely comprehensive, moving on the axis between art and traditional craft.
Atmosphere: When a trip to a kibbutz meets the Tate Britain.
Current highlights: The Documenta – a very worthwhile contemporary photography exhibition from the countries of the Mediterranean basin, which takes over several of the museum’s spaces, and the new exhibition “Enchanted Art” which deals with worship and rituals around the world.
Entrance Fee: 52 NIS (42 NIS for Tel Aviv residents, 35 NIS for students)
The Bottom Line: Half art, half nature walk.
Still a bit of a family. “Summer Night Animals” at the Eretz Israel Museum. Works of Arla Ben Aryeh
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Location: The city center, or the most downtown a museum can be. Shaul Hamelech Boulevard, near the Chamber Theater, on the path between Ibn Gvirol and Azrieli.
history: First opened in 1932 in Beit Dizengoff on Rothschild Boulevard which was then, as its name, still – the home of Meir Dizengoff, where the Declaration of Independence took place in 1948. In 1959, its activities moved to what is known today as the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion on Sderot 1570 – and it still operates under the museum (now under renovations). In 1971, it moved to its current location, and in 2011, what is known as its “new wing” was launched, which expanded its size significantly.
Focus on: Contemporary art from Israel and the world. In recent years there has been a significant attempt to bring in international stars such as Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, and another one, what’s her name, Kusama. But alongside them, the museum advocates for the presentation of Israeli art, holding many prize exhibitions including solo exhibitions for Israeli artists at their (relative) beginnings, collection exhibitions of Israeli art that are superbly made, thematic exhibitions, performance, video and now also that word you love – NFT.
Maybe now we will be able to understand what it is. The NFT exhibition at the museum (photo courtesy of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art)
Atmosphere: The MoMa Levant version.
Current highlights: Two exhibitions of international artists are super interesting even though they are not Kusama – the French Annette Massaje and the Swiss Ors Fischer; And solo exhibitions of no less Israeli artists – Shira Zalver, Maayan Elikim, Efrat Hakimi, Shai Ignatz and more.
Entrance Fee: 45 NIS (40 NIS for Tel Aviv residents, students, etc.).
The Bottom Line: A must stop for art lovers as well as those who don’t.
the winner
Tel Aviv Museum. Especially in a time when an air conditioner is such a necessary commodity.
still the champion Tel Aviv Museum of Art (Photo: Shutterstock)