“Resilience and Reflection: An Artistic Response to Oct. 7” is an exhibit exploring artists’ reactions to the tragedies that occurred in Israel on October 7. The show, on view through September 26 at David Benrimon Fine Art at 41 East 57th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, is the brainchild of Danielle R’bibo, a freelance art curator.
“Art allows us to communicate the inexpressible, to process pain, and to find hope amid sorrow,” R’bibo said in an official statement. “Through their art, [the artists] aim to honor the memories of those lost, bringing a human face to the war. This exhibition is not about politics; it’s about the people—their stories, their pain, and their resilience.”
The exhibition spans mediums—from sculptures to paintings, poems, video projects and more—and provenance, featuring works from emerging and established Israeli artists.
Among the projects on the display is “October” by Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz, the artists behind the famous “kidnapped” poster campaign.
Using intuitive painting and collaging as a response to last year’s tragedy, the work seeks to offer self-healing practices while continuously telling the story of what happened.
Artist Benzi Brofman’s “Rotem,” a print stretch on canvas, on the other hand, is one of the many works commemorating and raising awareness of the hostages.
According to an official release, since October 7, Benzi has put all of his projects on hold in favor of supporting the families of Hamas’ victims and hostages.
“He first painted portraits for families who lost their loved ones and held graffiti workshops for families evacuated from the Otef Gaza area to Emek Izrael,” reads the release. “Later, he began to paint large-scale murals for the return of the hostages from Gaza.”
Although clearly focusing on the artists’ reactions to October 7, the exhibit also seeks to help visitors process the events of that day by forcing them to engage with the artworks and, in a way, re-live the tragedy through different perspectives. With the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre just around the corner, this unique show feels more important and resonant than ever.
