Israeli artist Sofia Wierkus and Palestinian artist Violette Baransi have spent the past two years working in collaboration, exploring the complex realities of life on both sides of the fence. Through their shared experience, the young artists have created a powerful body of work that responds to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East—without taking sides or making explicit political statements.
The artists’ creative journey has been shaped by the events of October 7, a pivotal moment in both artists’ work. Their response to these events and the broader realities of war unfold through a variety of media, with a particular emphasis on printmaking. Each piece speaks to the destruction, trauma, and human cost of conflict on both sides of the divide.
This exhibition showcases a mix of individual and collaborative works, where the artists process the ongoing conflict in a deeply personal yet shared artistic language. This includes a short film documenting an ongoing community engagement youth initiative in Israel-Palestine. Through their art, Wierkus and Baransi invite viewers to witness the impact of war without simplifying it into partisan narratives, offering a poignant reflection on the human experience at the heart of the ongoing crisis.
Through the Fence is more than an art exhibition; it is an exploration of our shared humanity.
Exhibition Opening
Thursday 8 January 6-8pm
Please join us to welcome in this new exhibition.
Free event / no booking required
Artists in Conversation
Tuesday 13 January 6.30-8pm
Join the artists in conversation with historian and Middle East expert James McDougall (Trinity College, Oxford)
Free event / no booking required
