Nomi Bruckmann: The Gift

At the center of this exhibition is a simple dollhouse built by the father of Nomi Bruckmann for her fourth birthday. Her father was killed in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence before he was able to give her this gift. Two years ago, Bruckmann took the dollhouse out of her closet and began an almost obsessive project, painting still lifes staged inside, rearranging the few objects of furniture and playing with light and darkness in the toy house. (Left: “Dollhouse,” 2017.) Through these paintings the artist felt she communicated with her father, dealing with his death for the first time. Her paintings capture the yearning for a lost childhood and for a missing father. Through September 30 at Ticho House in Jerusalem. www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/nomi-bruckmann-gift