Art at Mishkenot Sha'ananim

At one of the seminars at Mishkenot Sha'ananim, author David Grossman remarked that during his stay here for the purpose of writing, he requested that the curtains be drawn and all the openings closed so that the view would not distract him and prevent him from concentrating on his creative work. It is indeed difficult to ignore the beauty of Mishkenot Sha’ananim or to compete with it or with the rich collection of works of art that adorn the walls of the residence. The photographic works of Israeli artists included in the Mishkenot collection are displayed in the interior public spaces and guest rooms of Mishkenot Sha'ananim and emphasize the tension between the old and the new—contemporary art versus the immortal landscape of the city’s walls—which is also the story of Jerusalem.

Artists in Mishkenot

Pesi Girsch

Born in 1954 in Munich, Germany.

Pesi Girsch studied sculpture with Rudi Lehmann and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and photography at the Art Teachers’ Training College in Ramat Hasharon. She has won awards and scholarships, including: the DAAD (German Academic Artists Exchange Service) Scholarship, Berlin; the Klachkin Award for Excellence in the Plastic Arts, America–Israel Cultural Foundation, Tel Aviv; the Tel Aviv Museum of Art’s Constantiner Award; and the Minister of Culture’s Award for Israeli Artist.

With a total commitment to the photographic process and the classical tradition, Pesi Girsch plants her roots in the landscapes of Israel and through them meets the landscapes of its soul. She is captivated by the charms of low-sensitivity black-and-white film, which makes it difficult to record accurately. She sees everything and develops her colors through it and remains loyal to it.

Pesi Girsch