2026 marks the seventh edition of the Jerusalem Biennale, a major bi-annual art show that began to explore the ways that religion and art intersect in the most holy heart of the world. Now, a team of Boston-based artists are preparing their work to take to Israel, a way of blending their American and Israeli identities, and bringing a sense of support and relief to their family and friends in Israel, addressing the overwhelming heartache, loss, and grief of the last few years.
This exhibition, “Malegría: Breath Amid the Depth,” is an immersive, site-responsive installation that invites visitors to dwell within the coexistence of sorrow and joy—a paradox at the heart of Jewish experience. The installation takes its name from a Spanish word meaning “bittersweet,” a nod to lead artist Sandra Mayo’s Argentine Jewish roots, and a fitting description of the emotional terrain the artists hope to navigate. Mayo, along with musician and installation artist Yuval Gur and singer/composer Tutti Druyan, will be joined by Israeli sculptor Orit Kama to transform an ancient Jerusalem space into a multi-sensory installation that blends the ancient and the modern, the personal and the political, the joyful and the grieving.
Conceived in the aftermath of Oct. 7, amid the unfolding crisis in Israel, the project emerged from a shared need among four Boston-based artists with deep ties to Israel to remain connected, responsive, and supportive from afar. When invited to apply to the Jerusalem Biennale as a means of connecting communities and countries, Mayo had the idea to reach out to some beloved colleagues and friends to think: How could they use this opportunity of the Jerusalem Biennale, the most major art show in this most emblematic of cities, to nourish themselves and their communities in these dark times? What resulted is a vision for “Malegría,” a creative offering and a physical vessel for reflection in the heart of the world—an invitation to breathe amid uncertainty and to find presence within complexity.
Designed as a contemporary ritual, the installation unfolds in a dark, circular environment where a sandpaper labyrinth guides visitors through suspended textiles—once domestic linens, curtains, and embroidered tablecloths—transformed into witnesses of existence. Six ceramic vessels respond to light and sound, emitting jumping tones that suggest breath and vibration. When Jerusalem Biennale visitors come to “Malegría,” they will feel invited in by light and sound, and when they reach the center of the labyrinth, we hope they will experience moments of quiet presence surrounded by community.
As a collaborative work, “Malegría” represents the convergence of artists first connected through the JArts/CJP Community Creative Fellowship and is a beautiful representation of the fertile ground CJP and The Vilna have laid for Jewish creatives in Greater Boston.
As Mayo explains: “’Malegría’ gives shape to the mixed emotions we’re all carrying. Creating it helped me stay connected to Israel while in the diaspora—a reminder that even across distance, we belong to one another.”
Artist Yuval Gur reflects on the work, saying: “It has been a really complex and challenging period to be far from my home. Coming home for this show carries so many layers of meaning, and a way I feel I can use my music and art to create some sense of comfort and connection.”
“Malegría” will open in Jerusalem this May. As the artists continue shaping the installation, the community is invited into their creative process.
An open workshop and conversation will be held at Temple Beth Zion on Thursday, Jan. 15, offering a rare chance to see how Boston’s artists are preparing to represent not only their city, but the complexities of being Jewish, American, and connected to Israel in this moment of profound uncertainty—and profound possibility. Interested in joining us? Email me for info.
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