A Sublime Vision: Classical Concepts of Sublimation in Classical and Hellenistic Sculptural Goddess Images and Their Manifestation in Artworks by Two Contemporary Israeli Artists – Lea Avital and Ayala Serfaty

Nava Sevilla Sadeh
Consciousness, Literature and the Arts, Volume 15 Number 1, April 2014

Abstract
This research is specifically aimed at exploring the characteristics of the impact and acceptance of Classical art in contemporary art. The study focuses on two works exhibited at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art in 2008 (in two separate exhibitions): The Unseen Venus by Lea Avita, and the installation SOMA by Ayala Serfaty. These images have a strong aesthetic and conceptual affiliation to Classical aspects, especially concepts of Beauty and the Sublime, which are anchored in texts and works of art from the Ancient world. The basic assumptions underlying this study are that Ancient worldviews and aesthetics are relevant for an understanding of contemporary art and culture and that an examination of Ancient sources will contribute to the understanding of contemporary works of art inspired by Classical images and concepts. Read More