The exhibition features a unique photography project by the internationally recognized artist Vangelis Kyris (lives and works in Greece), who was commissioned by MUZA to photograph the stunning collection of garments in the Jewish Culture and Folklore Pavilion. Kyris photographed some 80 male and female models wearing items from the collection, one of the most important of its kind in Israel. The collection features complete outfits, alongside various clothing items, headdresses, jewelry and prayer shawls from the 18th–20th centuries. These pieces originated in Jewish communities around the world, including Bukhara, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Poland, Turkey, the Balkans and Western Europe. The dramatic portraits created by Kyris are printed on large stretches of cotton, upon which he creates details of delicate gold, metal and cotton embroidery that reconstruct ancient traditions.
The exhibition showcases a unique artistic medium that combines photography and functional art – forging a connection between age-old traditions and the present, and bringing the traditional garments back to life.