WUJS Artists - Annie Albagli and Yasmine Soiffer
The current exhibition on display at the Hadassah Art Gallery in Merkaz Hamagshimim, Jerusalem is a collaboration between Yasmine Soffer and Annie Albagli. The two conceptualized the exhibition when talking about the different aspects of Jerusalem that interest them. They found they were both interested in the diverse communities in Jerusalem and the busses that travel between them. They rode the bus around the city together for a few days, observing the waxing and waning of people from different communities depending on the location and route of the specific bus. They photographed, filmed, and drew the bus while riding it, making observations for the exhibition. Three weeks later, the artists came together with the subsequent work created and the exhibition, "Bussing It," was born.
To see pictures from the exhibition please click here: http://www.wujsisrael.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=369
To see an article about the exhibition in the press click here:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231950864243&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Artists' Statement, Bussing It !! אוטובוסידע :
We wait.
We ride.
We arrive.
Fear. Anxiety. Impatience.
We are all in this together.
Together, we ride the bus. Squashed together, squished together, tossed together, delivered together.
Together, we wait; we wait, for answers, for transport.
I look down at the people in their cars, alone, each in their pod.
I cannot afford a scooter, a motor, a car. I cannot afford to leave.
The old lady I give my seat to pushes me to get off first.
I witnessed once an Arab woman, with the scarf, sat down, and the woman she sat down next to got up and left to another part of the bus.
I was once on the bus sitting across from a woman, a different scarf on her head, who held her hand over her eyes so as not to see me, short skirt, high heels.
Here, we wait, we ride, we arrive. In this bus, we're in this together.
Are we together?
Annie Albagli - Bio
Annie Albagli is excited to spend this year living and working in Jerusalem! She has exhibited in Boston, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., Germany, and Italy. In May 2008 she graduated with her B.F.A. in painting and sculpture from Boston University. Following which she continued teaching figure drawing and sculpture to gifted and talented High School students at Boston University. During her time in Boston, Annie was responsible for the creation and curation of the Paradigm gallery in the Financial District of Boston.
The baffling layers of complexities that fabricate the land of Israel inspire her. As a result she is using this and the following year to take in her surroundings to fuel and inspire her studio before completing her M.F.A.
To contact the artist please email her at anniealbagli@gmail.com
Please visit her website at www.anniealbagli.com to see her sculpture and installation work.
Yasmine was born in Sri Lanka, and, as the child of diplomats, called Pakistan, Israel, Japan, Virginia, Paris, and Ivory Coast home by the time she settled in New York City to attend university. She often did not share a language with her peers, and so sought other ways of communicating, finding herself captivated with photography and image-making.
Education
Sept. 2007-'08 International Center of Photography, New York, NY
· General Studies Certificate received June 2008
Sept. 1999-May '03 Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY
· Bachelor of Arts received May 2003
· Double Major: English / French Literature and Translation
· GPA: 3.4 (3.9 in major), Dean's List 2001-2002, 2002-2003. Awarded distinction on Senior Requirement in English
Sept.-Dec. 2001 Reid Hall, Columbia University in Paris, Paris, France. Semester abroad
Sept. 1996-May '99 International Community School of Abidjan, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
· High school diploma received May 1999
Exhibitions
2009 "Bussing It !! אטובוסידע," Hadassah Art Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
2008 "Loisaida," Umbrella Arts / Curcio Projects, New York, NY
"Reflect: ICP Full-Time Student Exhibition," School of the International Center of
Photography, New York, NY
"New: Curated by SuperGlue," Broadway Gallery, New York, NY
2007 "Art as Anecdote," Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
"Metropoly," Makor, 92nd Street Y, New York, NY
2006 "Visual AIDS: Postcards From The Edge," Sikkema, Jenkins, & Co., NY, NY
"Disappearing Brooklyn," Object Image Gallery; Brooklyn, NY
2003 "Collision," Columbia University, New York, NY
"SNAP," Barnard College, New York, NY
"Hartley Art Show," Columbia University, New York, NY
Grants and Residencies
2008 Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Community Arts Grant Recipient
2006-'07 Makor Artists-in-Residence (subsidiary of the
Publications
Sept. '08-present Walla
Oct. 2008 Green Action
May 2008 Shift, Volume 3
Feb. 2007 Zeek Journal
Sept. 1999-May-'00 Columbia Spectator, Daily Newspaper of the University and Community
To contact the artist, please call her mobile in Israel 052.580.6835 or email, yasmines@gmail.com.
To see more personal projects, please visit www.yasmines.net, and commercial work, www.yasminesoiffer.com.
