The Tora and Art Foundation, in collaboration with the Sarah Vinitz Foundation, presents its inaugural itinerant exhibition, Tales of Xenophobia: Les Autres…, set to open in Paris on September 27th, 2024. This thought-provoking exhibition draws inspiration from Jean-Paul Sartre’s famous existentialist assertion, Hell is the others, and invites audiences to explore themes of xenophobia, identity, and the boundaries between what is considered art and what is deemed foreign.
The concept behind Les Autres… is rooted in challenging societal norms and confronting fears of the unfamiliar and the foreign. The exhibition seeks to provoke dialogue about inclusion and acceptance by showcasing contemporary works that question cultural and aesthetic barriers. Curated by Sarah Vinitz, Samir Belasri, and Boris Bernaskoni, the exhibition aims to foster understanding through art that breaks down these barriers.
The exhibition manifesto emphasizes the role of Paris as a historical center for artistic revolution. Drawing parallels with movements like Impressionism and Dadaism, Les Autres… argues that just as art once defied academic and aesthetic constraints, society must now challenge labels that lead to exclusion. In a globalized world, fear of the unfamiliar persists, and this exhibition asks how art’s history of pushing boundaries can inspire people to embrace what they don’t understand.
One standout work is a multimedia installation that merges digital projections with physical sculpture, examining the parallels between migration and the transitory nature of identity. Another significant piece is a series of photographs that juxtapose images of refugees with classical art, highlighting the tension between inclusion and exclusion in cultural narratives. These works invite the viewer to question their own perceptions of “the other.”
By showcasing works from acclaimed international artists, Les Autres… pushes viewers to confront their biases and reflect on the barriers that separate us, offering a platform for meaningful discourse on the ever-relevant topic of xenophobia.
