THE LOUNGE

Jeff Koons

Friends of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art were treated to a pre-opening tour, at the first solo exhibition in Israel of artwork by Jeff Koons, one of the most influential and famous American artists in the world.

Art works by Koons are currently the most expensive of any living artist. Each year, sales of his art break records. In 2019, the stainless steel Rabbit sculpture he designed was sold by Christie’s auction house for $91 million, which once again set a record price for a work of art by a living artist. In addition, the number of visitors at Koons’ exhibitions around the world is also breaking records.

Koons was scheduled to arrive in Israel for his first visit here ever, to attend the opening of his exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum, but due to the spread of the coronavirus and the latest regulations of the Health Ministry, he and the museum decided to postpone the visit to another date. Koons instead sent a pre-recorded greeting that was screened on opening night.

The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Tel Aviv Museum and the Mary and Jose Mugrabi Collection, and includes works from which were exhibited at the museum several years ago for “Wanted: Selected Works from the Mugrabi Collection,” alongside works by other modern artists, including Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Jose and Mary Mugrabi, Tania Coen-Uzzieli, director of the museum, and exhibition curators Doron Rabina and Shachar Molcho, greeted the guests, including: Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai and his wife Yael; acting United States Ambassador to Israel Jonathan Shrier; Sammy and Tova Sagol; Aliza and Ehud Olmert; Tzipi and Yigal Landau; and Alfred and Chava Akirov.

Battle of Tel Hai

The Tel Hai Academic College recently held an international academic conference on the Battle of Tel Hai and the formative myth that grew out of it. Attending the conference were many local residents and college administrators, mayors of local authorities in the region, and descendants of the courageous people who fought alongside Trumpeldor. The festive evening, which was the centenary celebration of the Battle of Tel Hai, opened with remarks from the