The exhibition A Picture of Nature presents a beautiful, varied and wild perspective on the unique world of nature in Israel. The country’s unique geographical and climatic characteristics, in particular its open spaces and ecological corridors, are vital to the preservation of its biodiversity, which includes endangered animal and plant species.
The entrance to the exhibition venue features the installation “Slough” by the artist Ori Shifrin-Anavi. The installation, made out of construction waste-removal sleeves, leads the visitors into the exhibition venue and connects the two levels of the building housing the two exhibitions – the local Picture of Nature exhibition and the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The urban snake seems to allude to the perils posed to nature by construction and the smothering of open spaces with concrete and cement.
The local exhibition is supplemented by a special exhibition of historical photographs documenting the plague of locusts that spread throughout the Middle East and Palestine/Eretz Israel in 1915, disrupting the delicate relationships between humans and nature.
In our current socially and politically complex period, it is vital to be able to take a long view. Observing nature offers meaning and an opportunity for mindfulness, providing an important reminder of the beauty and magic of the landscape, but also of the fragility of our planet and the attention that nature requires from us in order to preserve it.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
These 100 images, taken by photographers from around the world, tell the incredible stories of the wildlife with which we share this planet.
By following their curiosity, exercising patience, and experimenting, these photographers have built up a picture of our living world: a planet that is beautiful yet fragile, and in need of protection.
The competition is run by the Natural History Museum, London, and judging is done anonymously.
