The short documentary In the Studio with Dor Zlekha Levy is available to watch at the top of the page.
Dor Zlekha Levy is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in creating installations that combine visual imagery, sound, video art, and multimedia performances. His works resurrect forgotten Middle Eastern traditions and examine them within a contemporary context. The central theme of Zlekha Levy’s work is the dual identity of Arab Jews—a common trait among many Israelis who emigrated from Arab countries. He explores this identity from a historical perspective as a potential avenue for co-existence and cultural understanding in the Middle East.
Zlekha Levy collaborates with musicians from various fields and utilizes sound in his work as a catalyst for intergenerational memory. His creations form a multicultural bridge between religions and traditions from the Middle East, aiming to amplify the voices of Arab Jews from the past in a way that ensures they are heard in the present.
The short documentary film In the Studio with Dor Zlekha Levy, created by Artis and directed by Ian Sternthal (Sternthal Books), is available for viewing at the top of the page. In the film, Zlekha Levy discusses his creative process and sources of inspiration. His work is deeply rooted in the history of Arab Jews and draws inspiration from his family’s history in Iraq; the memories and stories of his grandparents from Iraq, which he heard in his childhood, inspired him to explore the role of memory in shaping identity, the emotions it evokes, and the narratives we tell ourselves about what happened. His family memories inspired his artwork Maqamat, which explores themes of separation, exile, and longing.
Audio-visual art is a field that merges auditory and visual components to create an immersive experience. In his own words from the film, Zlekha Levy states, “It is impossible to separate the audio from the visual in my work.” He elaborates on this concept, describing that even when projecting a video of a musical instrument being played, as in the multimedia installation Reflection, he does so from within the instrument itself. This technique makes viewers feel as though they are inside the instrument, experiencing both the sound and its visual source. The installation Reflection, partially documented in the film, was installed in 2022 at the historic Pool of The Arches in Ramla, Israel. The pool, inaugurated in 789 CE during the Muslim rule, was an integral part of the city’s water sources.
The project, curated by Dr. Smadar Shefi, was created in collaboration with the Contemporary Art Center in Ramla. The installation features four songs sung simultaneously in Hebrew and Arabic. The songs in Arabic are traditional love songs, while the songs in Hebrew are Piyyutim (Jewish liturgical poems) sung to the music of the Arabic songs. The melodies, associated with famous singers like Fairuz and Sabah Fakhri, blend with the Hebrew voices to create harmony. The songs are broadcast through eight speakers hanging from the ceiling of the pool. At the same time, videos of ancient musical instruments like drums and ouds are projected on the cave walls.
The installation showcases the unique aesthetics of the Pool of The Arches, enhancing the overall impression with music and films projected on the cave walls and reflected in the water. Visitors navigate the cave in small boats, and the ripples they create affect the viewing experience, influencing both the visual and musical elements of the installation.
The multimedia installation Shomer, also featured in the film, incorporates video works, three-dimensional simulations of the “Magen Avraham” synagogue in Beirut, as well as posters and 3D printed sculptures. This blend of media is designed to reconstruct the structure and historical narrative of the synagogue, built in 1925, and to explore concepts such as authenticity, preservation, and memory. The installation was part of a solo exhibition curated by Avi Lubin at the Hamidrasha Gallery in Tel Aviv in 2019.
At the exhibition, visitors listened to a soundtrack derived from an interview with Isaac Balayla, an Israeli born in Lebanon. He shared memories of his childhood in Beirut and discussed his return to the city as an Israeli soldier during wartime. Additionally, another part of the work was projected onto the gallery windows facing the street each day during twilight. The installation brought the Beirut synagogue to life and emphasized the blurring of boundaries between memory and illusion.
In the Studio with Dor Zlekha Levy was created by Artis, edited and directed by Ian Sternthal, and produced by Sternthal Books, in April 2023. This film is part of a series of artist video profiles that features interviews with artists who are based in Israel and received the Artis Grant for Exceptional Work in Uncertain Times. All rights reserved by Artis, 2022.
