Semblance Art Bridges Palestine/Israel Divide

Here is an interestingly fresh take on the concept of knowing your enemy in order to break down prejudice: physical semblance.

Earlier this week an advert was placed in the Hebrew edition of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, calling for individuals who resemble the eight people pictured below.

If anyone knows eight look-alikes, they could receive NIS 8,000, while single ‘face doubles’ could share NIS 1,000.

The project, conceived by Olivier Sutter and titled Enemies, focuses on “the absurd manner in which we identify the other, often based on prejudices and historical misunderstandings.”

A prominent artistic director in Switzerland, Sutter has conducted a similar art piece between French- and Flemish-speakers in Belgium.

It is a wonderfully unique concept and one that will undoubtedly prove profound upon opening next month.

Nevertheless, the notion of bringing people together via look-alikes seems a modicum twee.

Regardless of physical similarity, it remains the dire actions conducted by and to both sides that leave scars too deep for mere art to ease.

Ironically, it is the crude art in the post below that will rankle and remain far longer in minds than that of Sutter’s compelling endeavour.