ivo bisignano's 'human forms' exhibition occupies an ancient cave in israel

on view through november 2020, ivo bisognino’s solo exhibition ‘human forms’ sprawls the ancient southern cave at israel’s beit guvrin national park. the show stands as an example of how art can be displayed to the public in such a way that provokes the atmosphere of its site and still allows for social distancing. the ancient cave outside jerusalem will reopen to the public for the first time in 25 years to serve as the unprecedented location of the exhibition. a concentrated, solo output by the italian contemporary artist, the show will be based around namesake wooden sculptures of human forms, as well as visual artworks and hand-drawn animations that span his decades-long career up to present time.

all images by shai epstein | @shai.epstein.photography

ivo bisignano’s ‘human forms’ exhibition in israel comprises seven sculptures and five video-art projections never-before shown by the multidisciplinary artist. the body of work creates an harmonious tension between ancient and digital, the inanimate and the human. each of the seven ‘human forms’ sculptures contains their own personality and identity, and has been erected throughout the southern cave, forming a beautiful juxtaposition with its organic interiors. bisignano’s five video artworks include hand-drawings of black and white crows, lyrical texts, and pop art references, forming a dichotomy between light and shadow across the limestone cave. bisignano’s work subconsciously contrasts the moving and still, the permanent and temporary, the living and inanimate, into a world with a distinct language all on its own.

‘human forms’ was born from the desire to give ivo bisignano’s lifelike wooden sculptures a temporary home in an archaic context to create a symbiotic energy between the elements. bisignano’s sculptures are designed as monoliths, and as shapes that stand out in the ground belonging to it. the artist imagines these forms as old as thoughts, and as imposing as wind or rain. the balanced dichotomy created by bisignano dares the viewer to witness these forms within the context of a space becoming a ‘museum’ for the first time ever.

an archeological site formed by the hands of man dating as far back as 112 BCE, the southern cave is the perfect physical metaphorical setting for bisignano’s exhibition. the shapes and grooves in the cave were created by human hands as a prehistoric form of art, while original video works by bisignano are screened on the walls, creating a relationship between human form and the emotional world. the southern cave served as marble quarries during the byzantine and early muslim periods, providing building materials for cities on the levantine coastal plain. the human forms exhibition runs through november 2020 and will be accompanied by exclusive texts from leading art and creative luminaries, including robert c. morgan, binnie a. dansby, sir peter cook, and yotam ottolenghi.