From his historic Jaffa studio to Australian galleries, Ilan Adar’s Echoes of the Tribe exhibition transforms post-October 7 silence into shared healing.
Ilan Adar’s studio is located in the Old City of Jaffa. It’s a place rich with history and spirit. For years, Adar’s studio has been open to the public – a welcoming space that hosted visitors every day from all over the world. According to Adar, it was “more than a workspace – it was a cultural meeting point”.
But after October 7, everything changed.
“Flights stopped. Tourists and delegations disappeared. The vibrant daily flow of people through the studio came to a halt,” Adar recalled to The AJN. “The impact on our community — and on me personally — was immediate. Art became something that felt distant, not a priority for many. And for a time, I couldn’t paint. There was a deep silence — in the world and within myself.”
Adar explained that creating art has always been how he has processed life.
“Art has always been a natural form of expression for me,” he said. “Whether through painting or sculpture, I’ve always tried to translate inner landscapes and collective memories into something visual, something shared. But after October 7, like many artists in Israel, I felt paralysed. The grief was too deep, the world too quiet.”
But then, he said, came a call from Josh Liberman, who Adar calls a “true friend”. Liberman is a collector and also the person who pushed Adar to continue creating art after the horrors that befell Israel. The result? Echoes of the Tribe, which is currently exhibiting in Melbourne.
Adar described the exhibition as being born from darkness, but also from hope.
“It explores the idea of a tribe — not one defined by nationality, politics, or bloodline, but a deeper, shared human connection. A tribe made of memory, silence, resilience, and love. The paintings all begin with red — a primal colour that represents blood, earth, pain, and passion. They are layered with time, gesture, and emotion — offering spaces for people to find themselves, or parts of themselves, within,” he explained.
Adar said that exhibiting Echoes of the Tribe in Australia means a great deal to him, especially given the overwhelming support he has had, and continues to have, from Australians.
“To now show this body of work here, during such a difficult and fragile time, feels both grounding and healing,” he said. “The warmth and openness I’ve experienced in Australia has reminded me of the role art plays — not just in reflecting the world, but in reconnecting people.”
Alexandra Pyke, who was involved in bringing Adar’s exhibition to Australia, said the decision was made largely in response to the severe challenges that many Israeli artists are facing post-October 7. Many have faced discrimination and antisemitism which has impacted their ability to create, exhibit and share their work.
“Artists such as Ilan have been excluded from international art events and faced backlash on social media platforms,” Pyke explained. “With tourism to Israel at a historic low, Ilan, who regularly hosted tourists and international delegations at his beautiful Old Jaffa art studio, has seen his primary source of income vanish.”
Pyke explained that the exhibition, along with the various other events around Echoes of the Tribe, will hopefully help support Israeli arts and culture.
“Sharing the work of Israeli artists during this time is crucial for several reasons. It is important so they can express their trauma and resilience, providing an outlet for processing and expressing the deep emotional impact of the current conflict. It is also hugely important for cultural preservation,” Pyke said. “Amidst the turmoil, art helps preserve cultural identity and heritage. It serves as a reminder of the rich Israeli and Jewish history and traditions that continue to thrive despite the challenges our community is facing.”
“The warmth and openness I’ve experienced in Australia has reminded me of the role art plays — not just in reflecting the world, but in reconnecting people.” Ilan Adar
Pyke said that hopefully it also promotes dialogue and understanding, and helps others understand the human side of the conflict.
“What I hope comes from the exhibition is that people slow down and feel. That they see these works not just as paintings, but as invitations — to reflect, to ask, to connect. If even one image stays with someone after they leave, then I’ve done my work,” Adar said. “Even in times of disconnection, when the world feels divided and uncertain, art continues to offer a space where we can meet — quietly, honestly, and without needing all the answers.”
Follow Ilan Adar on Instagram, check out his website at ilanadar.com/works where you can contact the artist for private viewings.
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