Many aspects of both Israeli and Palestinian cultures are overlooked by most people in the world because of the conflict. To become aware of everyday aspects of both socieities is not to deny the problems, but rather to more deeply touch reality.

JERUSALEM CAFES is a participatory, multimedia installation by Azriel Cohen that provides an intimate encounter with Jerusalem's Israeli (West) and Palestinian (East) cultures.

The complete exhibition includes paintings, prints, sounds, tastes, and texts of conversations from the city’s cafés. It depicts a journey of discovery and human encounter as it explores calm, everyday, and even mundane aspects of the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians, specifically in spaces that recently have become associated with fear and danger.

The original paintings at the exhibit's core were created on location at the city's cafés in miniature, and were then enlarged into wall-sized prints using digital technology.

As the artist delved deeper into the connections he found developing among café owners and guests throughout both sides of Jerusalem, the exhibit evolved into an art installationn he calls THE TRAVELING JERUSALEM CAFÉ . The installation features images, texts, sounds sampled from the cafés, and (of course!) coffee from Jerusalem.

The exhibition has been shown in Israel, England, the United States, and Hungary, and has drawn significant media attention.

Click on any of the images or the enter gallery button and sample the sights of Jerusalem Cafés. You can participate in extending this exhibit and the dialogues it has created by inviting the exhibition or ordering a print for your home, office, or café. Click here to enter JERUSALEM CAFES.

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