Pamela Juhl
Photographers Leonid Padrul and Pamela Juhl
A Life Fragment
A Danish eye on Israel and an Israeli eye on Denmark
A Life Fragment The Israeli-Danish exhibition by photographers Leonid Padrul and Pamela Juhl
A Danish eye on Israel and an Israeli eye on Denmark
Embassy of the State of Israel in Denmark Municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen 2011
Embassy of the State of Israel in Denmark Municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark This project was sponsored by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund The Jewish Community in Denmark Danmark Loge B’nai B’rith Meta and Marcus Melchiors Memorial Foundation
A Life Fragment The Israeli-Danish exhibition by photographers Leonid Padrul and Pamela Juhl A Danish eye on Israel and an Israeli eye on Denmark Opening: August, 2011 City hall, Copenhagen Exhibition Curator: Ellina Kvitkovsky Project Coordinator: Dan Orian Assistant curator: Yuliana Gorkorov Exhibition design & production: Kwitkowski Art Catalogue Editing & production: Ellina Kvitkovsky Design: Polina Adamov English Translation: Sergei Makarov
Kwitkowski Art Production Agency (Israel) P.O.B. 17061, Tel-Aviv 61170, Israel Cell.: +972 54 572 3143 E-mail: info@artphotoisrael.co.il Web: www.artphotoisrael.co.il © Leonid Padrul (photos) © Pamela Juhl (photos) Printed in Israel, 2011
Denmark and Israel share many similarities. They have vibrant cultural creativity, they are innovative and they are both democracies. There are aspects on the affinity of the two nations which are not immediately visible, but their presence is strong in the collective memory of many citizens of our countries, such as the rescue of Jews in Denmark during World War II, the Danish support for the founding of the state of the Jewish people and the contribution of tens of thousands of Danish volunteers who, through the years, worked in Kibbutz communities in many parts of Israel. Artists get together at times, for joint projects of great value. The Danish/Israeli connection comes well into expression in this exhibit. It is our hope that all who see it will enjoy it. Arthur Avnon Ambassador of Israel to Denmark
As Mayor of Culture and Leisure in Copenhagen, and on behalf of the Copenhagen City Council – it is a great pleasure for me to welcome the photo exhibition “A Life Fragment” to our City Hall. Good pictures don’t need words to tell important sto ries. And the really good ones, generates new ways of looking at each others - and at ourselves. I believe this exhibition can give you that kind of experience. That is why I am really delighted that we can have this unique Danish-Israeli photo exhibition at our City Hall. It takes us on a beautiful and exciting photographic journey in both Denmark and Israel. Culture at its best - is when it is opening new doors between people. And this exhibition could be an eye-opener to learn more about each other – and what we have in common. Thank you very much for giving us the possibility to experience our two countries in a whole new way and context. From the City of Copenhagen we know that good relationships will bring us further - and this exhibition will help build even stronger bonds between Denmark and Israel. Normally this beautiful and historic City Hall is not only the home of the city’s administration and the local political scene - it is also always open to visitors and to the public. And now Copenhageners have the possibility to come and see and experience the exhibition. I am looking forward to see the photographs of Pamela Juhl and Leonid Padrul. Personally I have had the pleasure of meeting both of them at several occasions. I have also had the pleasure of recently visiting Israel, and I know that Israel and Denmark both enjoy rich cultural traditions and both countries encourage cultural creativity and diversity. I would also like to express my thanks to the Israeli embassy that made this exhibition possible. Thank you very much. Pia Allerslev Mayor of Culture , Copenhagen
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The joint photography exhibition A Life Fragment – a Danish Eye on Israel and an Israeli Eye on Denmark provides an extraordinary opportunity to look at Israel and Denmark through the camera lenses of two highly talented photographers – Israeli Leonid Padrul and Danish Pamela Juhl. These two photographers were able to capture some of the beauty and uniqueness which our two countries hold.
Photo: Leonid Padrul
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Photo: Leonid Padrul
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9 About KKL—jnf Keren kayemeth Leisrael – jewish national fund 110 years of green action During Pamela Juhl’s visit in Israel Pamela got to see the green side of Israel. This task was made possible by some good friends form an organization called: KKL, an organization that is committed to making Isra-el greener and cleaner and educate the next generation on these issues. KKL—jnf activity is a combination of its actions in all different fields: development goes hand in hand with preservation, forestry with research and water recycling with tourism. Founded in 1901, our work never stops: we are leading the way to a better, healthier environment – with large open spaces, green forests & recreation areas and respect for our natural and cultural heritage. During the 110 years of our existence we developed over 1000 projects that have changed the face of our country. More than 220 water reservoirs built by KKL-jnf now provide about half of the water required by farmers in Israel. We rehabilitate rivers, fight desertification, create new communities and have planted over 240 million trees so far since our foundation in 1901. We have created about 1200 recreation areas, scenic lookouts, playground facilities, historical sites, hundreds of kilometers of marked trails for hikers, scenic roads for drivers and, especially in recent years, bike paths. Our aim is to make Israel’ s natural landscapes and its diverse sites accessible to everyone, which is why all KKLjnf sites are open to the public free of charge and many of them are accessible also to wheelchairs. We educate today’s children, who will become the environmentally conscious citizens of tomorrow, to create a better future for Israel. 110 years of green action made possible with your help and support! Krystalgade 12 1172 Copenhagen kkldanmark@live.dk
A Life Fragment In the summer of 2010, an idea emerged during an IsraeliDanish meeting: to combine photographic images of both countries in the same show; to give the taste of both places at once. Two well-known photographers were invited: Pamela Juhl from Denmark and Leonid Padrul from Israel. They exchanged visits, and so a series of images was born. When people talk about Denmark, they usually think of the Little Mermaid, the popular Hans Christian Andersen character, or Prince Hamlet and the ghost of his father, wandering by Shakespeare’s will in the castle of Kronborg. When mentioning Israel, Danes who have worked on a kibbutz imagine camels, deserts and oranges, while others have in mind the Wailing Wall, the preserved western part of the Second Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Romans in the late 1st century AD. It is well known that a fresh look can capture details of daily life, of nature and of human characteristics of other cultures, in the sharpest way. That’s why both photographers, having seen each other’s countries for the first time, have been able to convey the characteristic spirits of Israel and Denmark so ingenuously and expressively. They were not attracted by tourist facilities but rather by Danes and Israelis in their everyday lives. Among Juhl’s and Padrul’s heroes are such figures as a fisherman casting his net in the North Sea; an artist painting landscapes on the shores of Jaffa, the most ancient port in the world; Orthodox Jews praying at the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives; a bride near the old Copenhagen City Hall; an Israeli soldier and a Danish royal guard.
Pamela Juhl, master of reportage photography, readily plunged into the turbulent torrent of Israeli life, pierced by the baking sun, so that even the shadows appear white. Her photographs captured the contrast between ancient Jerusalem and ultramodern Tel Aviv, its skyscrapers’ windows gleaming and washed by the warm waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Within an hour›s drive from Jerusalem stretches the Judean Desert. Its Qumran Caves still keep their secrets. The land of Israel retains vestiges of previous millennia. From an ancient mosaic strewn by sand, a man looks out at us as if echoing Ecclesiastes: «Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before.” Leonid Padrul, also a master of art photography, was fascinated by the measured pace of life in the Kingdom of Denmark, and has reflected this in his photographs. He depicted landscapes of the northern land shrouded in storm clouds, the lush verdure, churches and castles, the breathtaking panorama of the «Harbor of Merchants» - Copenhagen. Thanks to the photographer, you find yourself in a world made familiar by the tales of Hans Christian Andersen, a world wherein still echoes the era of giants, of Viking conquests and exploits of the Danish kings, a world where people today live harmoniously and unhurriedly. Once again, wise words from the book of Ecclesiastes come to mind: «So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?” Israel and Denmark, their commonalities and differences shown at Pamela Juhl and Leonid Padrul exhibition, merge into a multicolored mosaic named «Life.» Kwitkowski Art
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© The National Museum of Denmark
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Pamela Juhl Media Consultant - International Press Photographer
Photo: Leonid Padrul
Pamela Juhl is a leading American international press photographer working out of Europe. She is recognized for her excellence in humanitarian photography and her valued image contribution to international projects around the world. Pamela Juhl is also responsible for projects of establishing one of the first independent media live video streaming from mobile phones in Denmark. She has recently redefined personal branding by establishing collaborative works within the public and private sectors - oscillating between diplomatic missions and humanitarian projects. Pamela Juhl grew up in New York City and received a BA in criminal justice, and an Associates degree in Government and Public Administration. She also possesses a degree in digital film and photography and is educated as a Multimedia Designer. She uses her photography as a tool for intercultural communication and conflict resolution - establishing and building bridges with combined visual perceptions and innovative social media communication. Her extensive photography and human relations experience has brought her into the depths of the Chiapas Mexican mountains living among the campesinos, to the impoverished areas of Kenya, Africa, documenting a street kid soccer project, to visits of leading international government officials etc. Her passion for humanity and photography guides her camera settings through a lens of understanding to share with others the true nature of people.
Photo: Pamela Juhl
Leonid Padrul Art Photographer Leonid Padrul, Art Photographer (EFIAP) of the Federation of International Art Photography (FIAP) at UNESCO, resides and works in Israel since 1994. He arrived from the Ukraine as an already recognized and mature master of art photography, prize-winner of dozens of international exhibitions and photo salons in Russia and abroad. In Israel Padrul’s talent blossoms. His works are annually displayed at art exhibitions. Leonid is the Head of the Photographic Department of the Eretz Israel Museum, the archeological museum in Tel Aviv. He contributes to National Geographic Magazine and is a member of the Tel Aviv Journalists Association. Padrul is involved also in teaching, he leads master-classes, exploring the natural and architectural scenery of the ancient cities of Jaffa, Akko, Caesarea, Jerusalem and in the Judean desert.
Selected Solo Exhibitions: 2007 – Exhibitions at the Knesset and in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Israel, Jerusalem; 2007 – Exhibition “The Shadow of Jerusalem” at the Photo Union Gallery, Moscow, Russia; 2007 – Exhibition at the Migdal Shalom Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel; Supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Israel: 2008 – Exhibition at the National Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand; 2009 – Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, Manila, Philippines; 2009 – Exhibition at Copenhagen Central Library, Denmark; 2010 – Exhibition at the Belarus National Museum of History, Minsk, Belarus; 2011 – Exhibition “The Shadow of Jerusalem” at the Economic Forum from Israel and Harbin, China; 2011 – Exhibition at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra, Australia Photo-expeditions: 1978 – 1984 – Expeditions to Tien Shan, Pamir and Caucasus Mountains; 1999 – 2007 – Expeditions to Judean Desert and the Dead Sea area; 2002 – Expedition at the Qumran caves as part of the National Geographic Magazine project
A life fragment
54 A l i f e f r a g m e n t Epilogue When serving as a diplomat abroad, the country in which you serve is often perceived in light of the experience you carry with you from your home country. Part of the job is to send reports about the country you are stationed in. In a way a diplomat sends back “fragments of life” of the country in which he serves; very specific fragments to be exact. The exhibition “A Life Fragment” curated by Elina Kvitkovsky is a sum of such reports made by two special diplomats who carry no diplomatic passport… but do carry a camera. Each went on a short visit in the other’s home country. I lived in Israel over 35 years and believe to have seen almost every corner and place, but looking at the pictures taken by Pamela Juhl I was most pleasantly surprised. During a 10-day visit Pamela traveled through Israel and caught new images of Israel with her camera, and through her acquaintance with Keren Kayemet Le Israel (KKL - an organization whose main purpose today is to plant trees in Israel and make it greener) she managed to capture the green side of Israel and so many other colors of the country and its people. When I saw Leonid Padrul’s pictures of the Dead Sea exhibited in Copenhagen last year, it was clear to me that he should be the photographer presenting the Israeli view of Denmark. After 4 years in Denmark I did not think I would get to see any new sides of the country in his pictures but I knew he would have remarkable insights to share. Looking at the results of his 10 day visit in Denmark I was amazed at the new and fresh perspective coming from the lens of his camera. Every morning I ride my bike on my way to work passing Danes on their bikes, riding with their kids, sitting at ‘Den Franske Café’ next to the lake at Lille Triangle and walking to The Little Mermaid nearby or eating ice cream at the Langelinie pier. Living here for a while has made it quite clear to me why Denmark, now for the 3rd time, was chosen as the number one place to live in.
Photo: Leonid Padrul
It is one of those places where a diplomat feels reluctant to leave... I hope this exhibition will make you feel closer to both places as it did to me. If you look more closely at the pictures you might find my little personal mark as I found my way into one of Padrul’s snapshots taken of course in beautiful Copenhagen. Dan Oryan Project Coordinator
Leonid Padrul
photographers Leonid Padrul and Pamela Juhl
A Life Fragment
A Danish eye on Israel and an Israeli eye on Denmark Kwitkowski Art www.artphotoisrael.co.il